Parents of a Deal backpacker are calling on government officials to help them seek justice after a coroner concluded their son's death was "wholly preventable".

Eugene and Lesley Sloan's 24-year-old son Christian Sloan was one of three British travellers who died at the Datanla Waterfalls in Vietnam three years ago.

Last week, senior coroner Chris Dorries concluded that the former Walmer Science College pupil and sisters Izzy Squire, 19, and her sister Beth Anderson, 24, from Sheffield tragically plunged to their deaths over a waterfall, having not been properly warned of the dangers.

Now the couple, who live in Walmer Way, are appealing for the Foreign Office to take up the matter, not only for their son's sake, but also to safeguard the lives of other backpackers.

Speaking to the Mercury, Mr Sloan said: "The past three years without Christian have been a living nightmare for us as a family.

"He has left a void in our hearts that can never be filled. He was so loved by his family, friends, colleagues and fellow travellers.

"Messages and support we have received during the past three years from those who loved him are a testament to what an incredible and humble young man he was, with so much more to give.

"The inquest has not been easy to listen to, however, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Dorries for his unbiased summing up of the events.

"The evidence collected during this long investigation and put before the coroner has shown beyond doubt that Christian, Beth and Izzy were in no way responsible for what happened on that day - a day which had been sold to them as an easy trek and ended with them losing their lives."

The inquest uncovered how the three friends had gone down a natural water slide into a 6ft deep pool where they were meant to get out.

Instead they went down the next tier of the river complex and died when they went over the waterfall.

Giving a narrative conclusion at Sheffield Coroners’ Court last Tuesday, Mr Dorries said that the local guide, Mr Van Si, had not adequately explained that they were meant to get out at the pool and that the deaths were “wholly preventable.”

Mr Sloan said both families have continued to face a "wall of silence" from the Vietnamese authorities which forced them to set about finding answers for themselves.

They were "overwhelmed" by the evidence they were able to collect from fellow backpackers which included photographs and video footage shown at the hearing.

And with Mr Dorries rejecting the trio’s tour guide, Mr Van Si's version of events which conflicts with witness accounts and video footage, Mr and Mrs Sloan now was to escalate the matter.

In a statement, they say: "We understand that the government has been reluctant to pursue information from Vietnamese authorities surrounding their current investigation in to these tragic circumstances to date, however, we hope that last week's ruling will prompt suitable action from the relevant ministers in ensuring that appropriate justice is sought for the actions of the Vietnamese tour guide, the tour company and the management board of Datanla Waterfall Tourist Resort.

"We would like to invite the Foreign Office officials to contact us to discuss next steps and working together on an acceptable outcome to achieve justice for three lives lost and to safeguard the lives of future backpackers and travellers."

The coroner's findings led him to make the the unusual commitment to sending his report under Regulation 28 to the Vietnamese authorities concerning the use of this area hoping to gain a reply.

The family have thanked South Yorkshire Police who they say have "continued to provide ongoing support and assistance during what has been a difficult, traumatic and often turbulent three years."

MP Charlie Elphicke said: “It’s vital the Sloan family gets answers to questions surrounding Christian’s profoundly tragic death.

“Christian’s family tell me he was an extremely bright young man with his whole life ahead of him. The Foreign Office need to press the Vietnamese authorities harder for answers.

“I am asking ministers to exert greater pressure on the Vietnamese. This is an unacceptable situation for a family to be left in.”

Mr Sloan was a shift coordinator for DFDS Seaways at Dover’s Eastern Docks. His funeral at Canterbury Cathedral was attended by about 500 people.