YOUNG York backpacker Caroline Stuttle was murdered while travelling on her gap year.

Her death was a tragedy for her family and friends, and its effects were felt in the wider community too. A young woman, full of life, excitement and curiosity about the world, was killed during a robbery in Australia at the age of 19.

To their great credit, Caroline's parents, in particular her mother Marjorie, have tried to find a positive way forward from their appalling loss. The Caroline's Rainbow Foundation, a charity set up by her mother, aims to educate young travellers about the dangers they face.

Marjorie encourages just the sort of travelling that her daughter was engaged in when she died, recognising that such exploration is important for young people. The gap year is now a big part of growing up.

A new safety video launched by the foundation contains hard-hitting safety advice for young travellers - and it has already helped save lives.

York student doctor Heather Rodgers was one of the first to see the pioneering video, funded by a BBC Radio York appeal. It helped her defuse a life-threatening situation in the Himalayas, when she and her friends were confronted by knife-carrying attackers.

Heather, 23, who attended the same primary school as Caroline, remembered the advice never to retaliate at such times, and restrained one member of her party, who wanted to put up a fight. If Heather hadn't seen the video, matters could have been very much worse. Many other young lives could also be protected by this far-sighted video. Every young traveller should watch it and learn before leaving home.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, August 04, 2005