The devastated boyfriend of Ecuador coach crash victim Indira Swann was last night heading home to Didcot.
Harry Felton, 19, was flying back from the Far East to be consoled by his family, who have been left shell-shocked by the news.
Four teenagers and a 26-year-old died as they travelled from the country's capital, Quito, to a fishing village as part of a trip organised by gap year travel specialists VentureCo on Saturday.
The victims included 18-year-old Miss Swann, a former pupil at Henley College, in Henley-on-Thames.
The news of Indira's death was passed to heartbroken Harry on Sunday night by his parents.
He was expected to be back at his home in Manor Road, Didcot, today where his family spoke of hearing of Indira's death.
Speaking of Indie, as she was known to her friends, who spent much of her time at their home, Harry's parents Chris and Richard Felton said: "We feel like a light has gone out in our lives."
Indira had recently completed A-levels in English, classics, philosophy and ancient history at Henley College. They had decided to go travelling separately and Harry was in Laos, South East Asia, when he heard the news.
Indira's grieving parents found an email from her yesterday, telling them what a fantastic time she was having. Greg and Louise Swann, from Maidenhead, in Berkshire, revealed how they discovered their daughter's last poignant message just hours after rushing home from holiday themselves.
Indira wrote: "Thanks to you and Dad for being so great and for both giving me the opportunity and confidence to do this, but also for giving me such a lovely home that nothing could stop me wanting to come back after."
Sales and marketing manager, Mr Swann said his daughter had waved goodbye to them on March 27, and was full of hopes of making a difference to the world.
Indira, was well travelled having enjoyed family holidays to China and South Africa. Her father joked that "she had more stamps in her passport than Judith Chalmers".
Mrs Swann said: "She would light up a room. She was so full of life and lived for each day."
Indira was looking forward to starting an English and Classics course at King's College London in September.
The others who died were Emily Sadler, 19, Rebecca Logie, 19, Elizabeth Pincock, 19 - all students taking a year out before university - and Sarah Howard, 26, a freelance trip leader on her first expedition for VentureCo.
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