Emma Winters, who is also known as Wandering Emma on her YouTube channel, died at a property in Hawick and was not killed in the West Bank.
16:17, 15 Jul 2025
Emma loved adventures(Image: Emma Witters)
A travel vlogger has died at a property in the Scottish borders after false claims emerged online she was killed in the West Bank.
Emma Winters, 57, passed away at a property on Renwick Terrace in Hawick at around 10am on Friday July 11 and her next of kin have been made aware.
Fake reports surfaced online earlier today Emma, who is originally from Hawick but moved to the US 22 years ago, had been killed in the West Bank after sharing a series of online posts criticising the Israeli regime.
However Police Scotland say enquiries remain ongoing and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the mother-of-two. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Emma Witters has died(Image: Emma Witters/Facebook)
The mum had been solely travelling through Palestine recently sharing what she described as the “horrors of Gaza” on her YouTube channel Wandering Emma.
In recent months, she had posted a number of online clips from the camps of the West Bank, labelling Hebron as an “Apartheid City” as she told the stories of the civilians who live there.
Posts on her social media channel stopped eight days ago and fake news surrounding her death appeared on TikTok today.
Emma’s family members, Steve, Alice and Charlotte Witters – understood to be her husband and daughters – changed their profile pictures to photos of her in tribute as shocked friends filled their comment sections with kind words.
Kenzie Cortsen wrote: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Thinking about you guys.”
Kathy Ann Sirico said: “I am so sorry for you and your girls’ loss.”
Lisa Lizardi Lipedusi added: “I’m so incredibly sorry to see this post. My deepest condolences to you (Steve), Charlotte and Alice.”
Tributes also flooded in from her hometown.
Jordan Richardson said: “Rest easy, Emma Witters. One of the craziest women I’ve met, but the nicest kindest soul ever. You will be a big miss to us all, my thoughts are with your family at this devastating time.”
Callum Farries said: “Very sad news today of the passing of Emma Witters. A great human being who loved travelling and vlogging her travels and amazing stories to tell indeed. I don’t know the ins and outs, but fly high, darling.”
Emma had been critical of Israel(Image: Emma Witters/Facebook)
Emma, who has visited a total of 44 countries, has described herself as “loving adventures”. She wrote: “I love a challenge and pushing my limits as far as I can go.
“I love all the different cultures in the world and there are so so many that I have to experience for myself as nothing you read or see on tv is as accurate as actually being somewhere yourself and living it.
“I’m just up for trying anything, the more adventurous the better. I was never one for the main tourist destinations.
“I love the off the beaten path destinations. The places people know little about or places the Media has made everyone afraid to go to.
Emma in Palestine(Image: Emma Witters)
“Every travel adventure brings on a whole new meaning to my life, and I am truly humbled by the people I meet.
“I just want to show you all the world is not this big bad place and no matter the colour of our skins or the difference in culture, we are all the same.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At 10am on Friday, 11 July, 2025, officers were called to attend a property on Renwick Terrace, Hawick.
“A 57-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin are aware.
“Enquiries are ongoing, however there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
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