Couple Were Moving to Live in Australia

A couple preparing to emigrate to Australia to be with their newly born grandson were feared to be among the Britons who died in the crash at Phuket airport.

Judy and Anthony Weston, both in their 60s, had sold their home in Bristol and were heading for a two-week holiday in Phuket and Bangkok before flying to Australia to be with their family.

Last night the Foreign Office said it was too early to confirm the identities of any UK victims. But Mr and Mrs Weston's names appeared on the plane's passenger list and next-door neighbor Jeff Clements confirmed that they had booked the two-week holiday.

"They were looking forward to the trip so much," said Mr Clements, who lived next to the couple for two years. "They had a yard sale in our street to sell off all their belongings. They were looking forward to seeing Thailand but the move to Australia was the big one for them. They had not seen their son for years and had never met their grandchild. It was a new chapter in their life. It would be an absolute tragedy if they have been killed."

Last night the Irish government confirmed that 23-year-old graduate Aaron Toland was also among those who died in the disaster.

According to Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs his friend Christopher Cooley survived and is in hospital with two other Irish tourists. Mr Cooley suffered head and chest injuries. Derry priest Father Michael Canny said he met the Cooley family before they flew out to Thailand yesterday afternoon: "They just can't believe that the boys left full of hope and enthusiasm and exuberance on Thursday last. Now two or three days later this terrible news has come."

Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, said he had known both families for years and described the accident as a terrible tragedy.

"When I received the phone call informing me that Aaron, a young man that I have known all of his short life, was involved in the tragic air disaster in Thailand I was stunned," he said. "But to receive confirmation today that he is dead was absolutely devastating and I can only imagine the heartbreak that the family are experiencing at this time."

He said both men were impressive role models. "Too often we hear about the negative activities of a tiny minority of young people but here we had, in Aaron and Chris, two remarkable young men, who were an example of what is good and inspiring in the overwhelming majority of our young people."

Last night a Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed that three British survivors were in hospital, one of them in a critical condition.