£10k raised

DONATIONS WILL HELP TO RETURN BODY FROM AUSTRALIA

LOVED ones of tragic diving instructor Daniel Wright have raised enough money to bring his body home from Australia.

The 31-year-old from Durham City lost his life in a car crash - just weeks after landing his dream job teaching diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

His family had launched an online fund in a bid to raise the estimated £10,000 it will cost to bring his body home.

And in just over a week the target has been smashed.

Daniel’s niece, Jessica Hay, said: “We couldn’t have dreamed of raising that kind of money so quickly.

“I just can’t express how grateful we are for all the donations and generosity, from people who knew Dan and even people who didn’t know him. We just can’t believe it. We are just trying to organise everything now.”

And her mum, Daniel’s sister Wendy Gribben, thanked all those who helped with a message on the JustGiving website.

She said: “On behalf of myself and our whole family, I’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone. We have been overwhelmed with your tremendous kindness and generosity. We are so grateful for your tributes to Dan. Thank you so much, we are humbled.”

Daniel moved to Queensland in October after getting the opportunity to share his love of the ocean with other divers as an instructor.

But he died in a road smash on December 18, while travelling to a dive he had always wanted to try.