Emma Maria Laurent: French travel influencer dies after van is swept away by river in Nicaragua

A travel influencer and her two sisters have tragically died after they were washed away by a river on an international holiday. Read the latest here.

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Ella George
The Nightly
A popular travel influencer has tragically died while on an international family holiday, after the van she was in was swept away by a river in Nicaragua.
A popular travel influencer has tragically died while on an international family holiday, after the van she was in was swept away by a river in Nicaragua. Credit: Supplied

A popular travel influencer has tragically died while on an international family holiday, after the vehicle she was travelling in was swept away by a river in Nicaragua.

Emma Marie Laurent, 24, died on October 9 alongside her two sisters, after the Hilux ute they were in crossed a swollen river.

The French content creator and her sister were visiting their other sister who lived in Chinandega, Nicaragua.

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Laurent was known by her 43,000 Instagram followers, who enjoy her world travel and van life content.

According to Nicaraguan outlet La Prensani, a man was driving the three sisters in the ute when he attempted to cross the Nahualapa River at around 1am.

Emma Laurent.
Emma Laurent. Credit: Instagram/emmaalr

Although the river is not usually a dangerous crossing, recent heavy rain had caused flooding and strong currents which swept the vehicle away. Only the driver survived the incident.

Nicaragua co-president Rosario Murillo called the event “a tragedy”.

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“We express our solidarity and our call to remain vigilant and, in the face of such tragedies, to express our full solidarity,” Mr Murillo said.

Laurent last updated her social media on October 2 following a trip to Portugal.

Followers have flooded her comments with tributes to her and her family.

A man was driving the three sisters in a van when he attempted to cross the Nahualapa River at around 1am.
A man was driving the three sisters in a van when he attempted to cross the Nahualapa River at around 1am. Credit: Facebook/Torre Informativa

“Gone far too soon ❤️” said one fan.

“All my thoughts are with her family and loved ones!” wrote another.

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