The Scottish aid worker had earlier worked in countries including Afghanistan, Laos, Mexico, Uganda and Peru, and was involved in projects for the United Nations. She was in Afghanistan at the time of her death working for Development Alternatives Inc, also known as DAI.

On 8 October 2010 she reached international headlines when she was reported to have been killed during a rescue attempt when one of her captors detonated a suicide vest as United States military forces attempted to free the 36-year-old from her captors in Afghanistan. She had two weeks prior been kidnapped in the Kunar province along with three Afghans who were released a week later.
Norgrove was being held by two Taliban commanders, Mullah Basir and Mullah Keftan, who were both killed in the raid, an Afghan intelligence official stated after the event. Reports indicated that Taliban commanders were trying to use Norgrove as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Pakistani Aafia Siddiqui, called "Lady al-Qaeda", who was sentenced to jail for 86 years in the U.S. for the attempted murder of U.S. agents and soldiers.

Schoolboy, 13, drowns trying to save friend from river

Declan Shanley, 13, was carried away by the fast-flowing current after he and a friend jumped in to help the girl who had fallen into deep water.
While the other boy managed to reach out to her and drag her back to shore, Declan was caught by fast-flowing water and swept away.
He and his friends had been paddling in the River Kelvin in Glasgow on Saturday on one of the city's hottest days of the year.
His distraught friends called for help and police arrived at the Maryhill area with divers and a helicopter.
Nearly two hours later Declan was found in the water but he died on the way to hospital.

Proud Scotland and every single person in the country would like to offer our condolences to Declan's friends and family, he is a true hero in all our eyes.