Geelong nurse killed in honeymoon tragedy
A young bride has been killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in Vietnam, just a fortnight after getting married to her long-time sweetheart.
Katie Hirth, of Geelong, was hit and killed by a truck last Thursday while riding a scooter in Hoi Ann.
The 26-year-old nurse married partner James Weedon on the beach at Barwon Heads just two weeks ago.
Ms Hirth and her new husband were riding on separate scooters on an organised tour through the ancient village when tragedy struck.
Ms Hirth, a nurse at Geelong's Private Hospital, was killed instantly.
Ms Hirth's sister-in-law, Laura Weedon, told 7News the pair had met and fallen deeply in love many years ago, when they both lived in Colac.
She described the devoted couple as the perfect match.
"James and Katie had a love that you don’t see very often," she said. "You could just see it in everything. They just absolutely adored one another.
"From very early on in their relationship, they just knew that this was it - this was forever.
"Everyone says the same thing - they were just perfect for each other."
Ms Hirth was a cheeky and bubbly young woman who was 'beautiful both inside and out', Ms Weedon said.
"Katie always grabbed life with both hands.
"She lived her life to the full and we will try to honour her by doing the same."
She described Ms Hirth as a selfless and generous person who put the needs of others before her own.
She loved to have fun and was adored by her family, many friends and devoted husband.
The couple's 'beautiful' wedding on February 22 had been perfect and 'everything they had wanted', Ms Weedon added.
"Katie was a gorgeous bride. It was exactly how they wanted it. Lots of family and lots of friends, with fun and dancing."
Devastated family members have flown to Vietnam to comfort Ms Hirth's widow and make arrangements to repatriate her body.
"It was a trip that they both, particularly Katie, had been really looking forward to," Ms Weedon added. "She really was excited and we know that the whole time they were there, they were having an absolute ball. They hadn’t stopped laughing and joking."
The newlyweds were nearing the end of their holiday in Vietnam, but had planned to travel on to Thailand before returning home to begin married life.
The couple's families have asked for privacy while they grieve their 'great loss'.
