British biking couple killed in Thailand while cycling around the world

A British couple, Peter Root and Mary Thompson, both 34, who were on a journey bicycling around the world, were killed in a road accident in Thailand on Wednesday.

According to The Associated Press, the couple, who were both from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, were hit by a pickup truck near Bangkok.

Root and Thompson had been writing about their adventure on a blog since they began the trip in summer 2011. They had already traveled through Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Root and Thompson described their adventure on their blog, stating, “At 17.00 on the 12th July 2011 we took a ferry from Guernsey to France with loads of stuff, two bikes and the intention to cycle east around the world.”

Peter’s father Jerry Root told The Associated Press, “They were both inspirational. "They didn't just talk about it, they did it. I couldn't be prouder of them."

The two experienced bikers had been saving for years to prepare for the journey.