Latest news with #VanronNgoun
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Missing Wellington nurse Vanron Ngoun found in Bangkok
Vanron Ngoun, also known as Van, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May. Photo: Supplied / Facebook Wellington nurse Vanron Ngoun has been found in Bangkok, alive and well. Close friends of 60-year-old Vanron Ngoun had been "extremely concerned" after not hearing from him for two weeks. Flatmate Clive Aspinsaid Ngoun , who is on holiday in Europe, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May He had been sending updates then the messages stopped, which was out of character. His family had been extremely concerned after not hearing from him for two weeks. Aspin said Van had been found safe and well Bangkok but that he was not able to communicate as his phone had been stolen. More to come...
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- RNZ News
'He went silent': Fears for NZ nurse Vanron Ngoun missing overseas
Vanron Ngoun, also known as Van, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May. Photo: Supplied / Facebook A close friend and flatmate of a 60-year-old Wellington man on holiday in Europe says his family are extremely concerned after not hearing from him for two weeks. Clive Aspin said Wellington Hospital nurse Vanron Ngoun, also known as Van, was last heard from in Naples, Italy, on 27 May. "He was sending us regular updates about his travels and what a great time he was having since he left New Zealand on May 15th. Then suddenly he went silent." Van Ngoun, 2017. Photo: Supplied / Facebook He said Ngoun, who was travelling by himself, had always kept in contact during overseas trips. "It is absolutely, totally out of character. "To suddenly not hear from him is completely unlike him and extremely concerning." He said Ngoun's family in Cambodia also stopped hearing from him on 27 May. "They are deeply concerned. "He has a very close relationship with his sister in Phnom Penh, and she has been trying to contact him but has had no response." He said Ngoun was due to take a flight from Milan to Cambodia via Bangkok and Qatar on 30 May. Aspin wanted authorities to verify whether his friend, a long-time New Zealand resident and Australian citizen, got on that flight. "The level of support from Australian authorities has been almost non-existent. "We want to know they are at least keeping their eyes open for any person with his name that comes to their attention." He said they had also notified police, embassies, and hospitals in Italy, Qatar, Thailand, and New Zealand. He wanted New Zealand police to engage with the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol. He urged people living in or travelling through Naples, or anyone with connections in the region, to keep an eye out and contact authorities if they had any information about Ngoun's whereabouts. Van Ngoun, 2015. Photo: Supplied / Facebook A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed that they were aware of the situation. "We have been in touch with the Australian High Commission in New Zealand and understand that consular assistance is being provided by Australian authorities." Police confirmed they had received a missing person's report. "We have made some initial enquiries as much as we are able. "In the instance of someone reported missing in another country, the matter is ultimately under the jurisdiction of authorities in that country. "Likewise, any consular assistance would be provided by the country of the individual's citizenship." Police said they would potentially look to engage with Interpol in the coming days if no further leads emerged. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Ngoun travelled on an Australian passport and that his disappearance is incredibly worrying and concerning for his family and friends. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
a day ago
- Health
- 1News
'Help us': Friend of Wgtn nurse missing in Europe left in limbo
The friend of a Wellington nurse missing in Europe is distraught and feels "shunted from pillar to post" with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs unable to offer support due to his citizenship status. Vanron Ngoun, 60, known as Van, is a New Zealand resident and an Australian citizen of Cambodian descent. When approached by 1News, MFAT said consular assistance would be provided by the government of citizenship. Ngoun was last heard from on May 27 when he messaged friends from Naples, Italy and has been unresponsive since. He was due to fly from Milan to Cambodia, via Doha and Bangkok on May 30. He moved to New Zealand seven years ago, qualified as a registered nurse two years ago, and now works at Wellington Hospital. ADVERTISEMENT Vanron Ngoun is a registered nurse who works at Wellington Hospital. (Source: Supplied) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the situation was "incredibly worrying and concerning" for Ngoun's family and friends. "The individual has travelled on the Australian passport. Having said that, MFAT's system would work with the Australian systems to see if there's any support they need." Dr Clive Aspin, Van's close friend and long-time flatmate, said he was a "well-seasoned traveller" and that he was heading from Italy to Cambodia to visit his family. "He's a really kind, compassionate person who's lived through a lot of adversity, and he knows how to provide care and support to people when they need it most, and that's what he needs now. He needs us." Aspin said he had contacted the Australian High Commission in Wellington, the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra and the Australian Embassy in Rome. Vanron Ngoun. (Source: Supplied) ADVERTISEMENT "We need the local police here to contact Interpol so that they can ascertain where Van is and where he's been, and they have a copy of his passport number, they will know when he's crossed the border," he told 1News. "We need them to action that to understand whether he's actually left Italy." The level of anxiety was "just overwhelming", Aspin said. "It really is totally of character for him to go silent like this, and we just want to be there. We just want to be in a place where we can help him if he needs our help." Vanron Ngoun has been a New Zealand resident for seven years. (Source: Supplied) Police told 1News in a statement that in the instance of someone going missing in another country the matter was under the jurisdiction of authorities in that country. "We can confirm NZ Police have received a missing person's report and have made some initial enquiries as much as we are able. "NZ Police would potentially look to engage with Interpol in coming days if there are no further leads that emerge." 1News has reached out to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
