A GRIEVING Ashburton family today paid tribute to their popular 26-year-old surf-mad son who has been killed in a road crash in Morocco.

Tributes have poured in for Paul Brewer (above), a former South Dartmoor Community College student, who died instantly in the crash last week.

He has been described as 'outgoing and caring with a wicked sense of humour'.

Paul moved to the North African country last September to work with friends running a leading surf holiday company.

His devastated parents, retired teachers Peter and Eileen Brewer, who live in Ashburton, learned he had been killed in a road accident last Thursday.

The family, including his sister Claire, spoke yesterday of an active and outgoing young man who 'made so many friends wherever he went'.

"He was outgoing, caring, compassionate, friendly and had a wicked sense of humour," Mr Brewer said. "He had brilliant, sparkly eyes and a smashing smile."

Mr Brewer said they had learned the tragic news from one of Paul's work colleagues.

He said: "There was only one vehicle involved and he was killed instantly. We have to be grateful for small mercies."

He paid tribute to his son's 'amazing' friends in Morocco for their help. Paul's body is being flown back to Britain today and his funeral is being held next week.

"We have had lots of cards, flowers and visitors," Mr Brewer said. "His friends have been very supportive. Some are travelling back from New Zealand and Thailand."

Dozens of tributes have also been made on the social networking site Facebook. The family last saw him in January.

The 26-year-old, who was raised in St Dominick, near Callington in South East Cornwall, began his love of surfing on Cornish shores and ended up travelling all over the world.

"He started surfing when we used to go down to Porthcothan," Mr Brewer remembered. "He progressed from a bodyboard to a longboard and became very competent, surfing all year round. He surfed all over the world, from Australia to Bali and New Zealand to Morocco."

During his time at South Dartmoor Community College, he played for both basketball and football teams.

He was persuaded to join the first boys' South Dartmoor Dance Group, whose Dustbin Dance went on to be performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

The group's success resulted in a national tour while Paul also travelled to Australia with another local dance group.

After completing his A levels at South Dartmoor, he took a year out to work and fund a trip to Australia, Bali and Thailand.

When he returned he went to Swansea University and gained a degree in development studies.

Paul also revisited Bali after the devastating terrorist bomb attack to research his final dissertation.

He was working for a specialist recruitment company in Exeter, where he lived with friends, when he was offered the chance to go to Morocco in September.

He was working for Surf Maroc, a company owned by friends he met through university, when the accident happened.

"Wherever he went he made strong and lasting friendships, was selfless, full of energy, lived life to the full and encouraged others to do the same," Mr Brewer added.

"He radiated a spirit which touched others wherever he went and made a real difference to so many people."

South Dartmoor Community College principal Ray Tarleton said: "We are all shocked by the news of Paul's death.

"He was a charming, likeable man. One of my teachers said people like Paul were the reason they wanted to teach.

"He was a wonderful pupil, very active and involved in sport as well as dance. It's very sad."

A service for family and close friends is being held at the crematorium in Torquay next Thursday, March 18, followed by an event at Lavender House in Ashburton to celebrate his life.

Source: thisissouthdevon.co.uk