A POPULAR 26-year-old from the Westcountry who combined work with a love of surfing has been killed in a road crash in Morocco.

Paul Brewer, a former South Dartmoor Community College student, 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 at Ashburton, South Devon, 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 explained: "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 left on the social networking site Facebook. The family last saw him in January.

The 26-year-old, who was raised in St Dominic, 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 the 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, titled Terrorism and Tourism.

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

He was working for Surf Maroc, a firm 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," said Mr Brewer. "He radiated a spirit that touched others wherever he went and made a real difference to so many people. He will be sorely missed."

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