AMY Ransom died after plunging 500ft down a gully when she lost her footing on a mountain in Vietnam.

Amy, 17, was on the school expedition of a lifetime with seven other classmates from Wycombe High School when the tragedy happened on Monday.

The group, being led by teacher Hilary Brash, two local guides and group leader, Captain Richard Lloyd who works for organisers World Challenge Expeditions, had just decided to turn back, partly because of bad weather, when the accident happened.

The party were trekking up Fan Si Pan Mountain near the Northern Vietnam village of Sa Pa and Amy was at the front as they returned.

Marion Clayton, Buckinghamshire County Council cabinet member for school's said: "The party was trekking in a fairly rugged area of Vietnam.

"They set off in bad weather and decided to turn back because there were doubts about the fitness of one of the party and the weather was so bad.

"It was a pure accident and the most appalling, tragic thing to happen."

World Challenge's website warns treks in the area 'are challenging at this time of year as the climate may be unpredictable'.

It is thought Amy was being helped over a difficult stretch on the 10,300 ft mountain when she fell.

One of the guides fell with her as he tried to save her. He grabbed branches after falling about 20ft.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is unclear whether Amy died immediately from her fall or afterwards from her injuries."

The Sa Pa area is very popular with tourists to Vietnam who go to view its picturesque scenery and to visit the villages of different hill tribes.

A spokesman for the Auberge hotel in Sa Pa told how the party returned in tears after the tragic accident.

The hotel spokesman said: "They were all crying when they came back here. I was upset, for sure. It is the first time a tourist has died in Sa Pa."

He said the area in which the party was walking was 'normally not that dangerous'.

He added: "I don't exactly know how the accident happened."

Liz Duffy, headteacher at Wycombe High School, who travelled back from her summer holiday in Italy after hearing the news, said everyone at the school had been distressed by the news.

She said: "Her many friends and fellow students will miss her greatly. She is a real loss to our school community."

Executive chairman at World Challenge Expeditions Charles Rigby said Amy had suffered a 'very bad fall into a gully' and had fallen around 500ft, although reports from the Foreign Office initially put the distance at 500 metres.

Mr Rigby said: "Amy was participating in a Team Challenge which is designed to develop the participants and give them opportunities to find new strengths and potential in themselves.

"All activities involve some level of risk and it is our job to keep that level of risk as low as possible without losing the element of challenge."

He said: "We are awaiting more details about the exact circumstances of this terrible accident, but in the meantime we are focusing on doing whatever we can for her family."

It is understood that statements are being taken from all involved and eventually there will be an inquest.