HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The bodies of 15 Indian tourists who died when a speedboat capsized off southern Vietnam last week were being returned home Monday.
The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it overturned near shore Saturday afternoon, shortly after leaving Hon May Rut Ngoai island near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, authorities said.
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Bodies of victims of Indian tourists killed in a boat accident are loaded onto an aircraft to be taken back to India, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday, July 13, 2026. (Nguyen Xuan Khu/VNA via AP)
Bodies of victims of Indian tourists killed in a boat accident are loaded onto an aircraft to be taken back to India, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday, July 13, 2026. (Nguyen Xuan Khu/VNA via AP)
Exterior of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health's Forensic Center, where remains of Indian tourists who died after a speedboat capsized are kept, in in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Minh Tran)
Investigators with crew members involved in the speedboat incident in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (VNA/Tran Van Si)
The boat's captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, is under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, state media reported.
The flight carrying the remains from Ho Chi Minh City would arrive in Mumbai late Monday, the Indian Embassy said on social media. It said the home states were asked to coordinate further travel. Ten of the dead were from Tamil Nadu state, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.
Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer, based in Uttar Pradesh, said the group was on a company trip for employees, distributors and retail partners.
The embassy previously said 16 survivors were released from the hospital and returning to India.
Nirmal Kumar, 44, a businessman, said what began as a leisurely trip descended into chaos within minutes as a storm lashed the boat.
A large wave crashed into the vessel, triggering panic among passengers, he said. He said the boat rocked violently in rough waters before it capsized, adding that the vessel appeared increasingly difficult to control.
“People rushed from one side of the boat to the other, and then they started jumping,” Kumar told The Associated Press. “I also jumped into the water.”
Rescue teams arrived within five minutes, he said, and pulled survivors from the water.
Kumar said the experience has left him traumatized. Among those who died was one of his childhood friends, who had traveled with him expecting a memorable holiday.
“I still can’t process that he is dead,” Kumar said.
One survivor remained in critical condition and was transferred Monday to Cho Ray Hospital, one of Vietnam’s premier public hospitals, in Ho Chi Minh City for specialized treatment.
Doctors told state media outlet Vietnam News that the 49-year-old man had severe lung damage after nearly drowning, along with shock, multiple injuries and bleeding in the brain.
Dr. Tran Thanh Linh, head of the hospital’s intensive care unit, told state media that his blood pressure and blood oxygen levels had improved.
The scene of the capsizing is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Phu Quoc, one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations. Both are known for their white sandy beaches and clear waters, drawing millions of domestic and foreign tourists each year.
India is one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
Saaliq reported from New Delhi, India.
Bodies of victims of Indian tourists killed in a boat accident are loaded onto an aircraft to be taken back to India, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday, July 13, 2026. (Nguyen Xuan Khu/VNA via AP)
Bodies of victims of Indian tourists killed in a boat accident are loaded onto an aircraft to be taken back to India, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday, July 13, 2026. (Nguyen Xuan Khu/VNA via AP)
Exterior of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health's Forensic Center, where remains of Indian tourists who died after a speedboat capsized are kept, in in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Minh Tran)
Investigators with crew members involved in the speedboat incident in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (VNA/Tran Van Si)
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Paul O’Donnell was struggling in the marathon on Sunday morning. The Irish fans got him home.
“It was incredible, to see green and the tricolors all over the course,” the Irishman said. “The support kept me going. It was much appreciated. It was just a roar, ‘Go Ireland, go Paul.'"
Whether waving flags or roaring for their athletes, Irish fans have made their mark at the European championships in Birmingham. Ireland's athletes have taken note, as have broadcasters and organizers.
“It feels like a home championships,” O’Donnell, who finished 43rd, told The Associated Press.
The official Instagram account of the games, Birmingham 2026, posted: “Beginning to think the Irish fans are the best fans in Europe!" In another post, it added: “From Dublin to Birmingham and everywhere in between, they follow their athletes across the world, and the noise they bring is unmatched.”
Kate O'Connor won the heptathlon on Saturday to double Ireland's gold tally. Mark English had won the 800-meter final on Thursday, followed minutes later by a silver medal for Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200 meters. Andrew Coscoran picked up a bronze in the 1,500.
Husband-wife duo Eoin Murphy and Emma McNelis of Dublin were in Alexander Stadium to see O’Connor complete her heptathlon victory.
“It feels like there’s as many Irish as British here — at the stadium,” McNelis said as they watched the marathon.
Murphy bought an Irish flag at the Dublin airport for their weekend trip. For him, Coscoran's bronze was the highlight "because it was so surprising. He was in the middle of the pack for most of it.”
In interviews with Athletics Ireland, Irish competitors marveled at the support they’ve received in Birmingham.
O’Connor described the experience as “probably the closest we’ll ever get to a home games.”
“It’s a championships that I’ll obviously never forget for winning gold but also never forget the roars, the cheers, the support,” she said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
“Seeing so many kids as well out there that are screaming for autographs and photos," O’Connor added, "it kind of makes you realize the effect that you have on the country by, I don’t know, running, jumping, throwing, doing all those events as well as you can.”
Ireland's medal haul for the championships stayed at four. Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan competed in the 1,500 final Sunday night but finished outside the top three.
In an annual survey, champion boxer Katie Taylor regularly tops the list as Ireland’s “most admired athlete” despite boxing not ranking among the favorite sports. Gaelic Games topped the list just ahead of soccer, with rugby third and "athletics/tennis" fourth in the 2025 edition of the Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index.
Athletics stars from this week will likely get some love in the next version.
Adeleke was second to Taylor in the 2024 survey after winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 European championships in Rome.
This week, the 23-year-old Adeleke said she felt like she was home thanks to the Irish fans.
“Definitely trumped any other nation that was out there. So loud, so supportive,” she said.
Adeleke's silver on Thursday came shortly after English's gold.
“Twenty minutes, two medals. That’s a great night out for us.”
See full AP coverage of European sports here
Iris fans cheer during the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ireland's Andrew Coscoran celebrates winning the bronze medal in the men's 1,500 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)
Amy Hunt of Britain celebrates winning the gold medal with Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland, who took the silver, in the women's 200 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Mark English of Ireland celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 800 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ireland's Kate O'Connor celebrates after winning the gold medal in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Ireland's Kate O'Connor celebrates after winning the gold medal in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
