The family of a 23-year-old Irishman who died in a aircraft crash at the Thai resort of Phuket at the weekend is expected to arrive in the country in the coming days, where they will make arrangements for his remains to be flown home.
Aaron Toland, a former University of Ulster student from Derry, was one of four Irish citizens who were on board the One-Two-Go airlines flight from Bangkok when it crashed shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday.
Mr Toland's friend, Christopher Cooley, who is also from Derry, was injured and remains in intensive care in hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.
A total of 89 people, including the pilot and several Britons, are so far confirmed to have died in the crash. In all, 123 passengers and seven crew were on board.
The incident occurred during strong winds, heavy rain and poor visibility. It is thought the cause of the crash could take weeks to establish. However, the aircraft's two black boxes have been recovered from the wreckage.
Thai prime minister Surayud Chulanont visited some of the survivors in hospital yesterday.
Two other Irish citizens, John O'Donnell, from Co Clare, and his friend William Burke, from Co Tipperary, were also being treated for their injuries in hospital yesterday. Mr O'Donnell's sister, Mairead, speaking from the family home, described how her brother and Mr Burke managed to escape the burning aircraft.
"It took them a good minute to get out. The seat he was sitting on was on fire and he was on fire and he was roaring for his friend. He got out eventually and he picked up Will and they literally ran and managed to get out of it. It's just a miracle really that they both survived.
"He's in severe pain. He's burnt. His lungs almost collapsed last night so he had to be put on a ventilator."
Mr Burke is believed to have suffered cuts to both legs as well as burns to parts of his body. It is understood he came out of his second phase of surgery early today and is recovering well, his family said.
According to Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who has known Mr Toland since he was a child, the Derry friends had only commenced their year-long overseas trip last week. Speaking to RTÉ yesterday, he said the men had sent text messages home in recent days saying how they did not like Bangkok and intended to travel to Phuket.
He described Mr Toland's death as "heartbreaking" and said Mr Cooley is "seriously ill" in hospital. Members of both men's families were preparing to travel to the country yesterday, he added.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern yesterday offered his condolences to Mr Toland's family.
The dead man's family and the families of the other Irish people injured, all of whom were Irish passport holders, are understood to have availed of travel assistance offered by his department.
"I hope that the three other Irish citizens involved in the crash will make a speedy recovery," the Minister said. "Our officials in Phuket, who were at the scene in the immediate aftermath of the accident, are continuing to provide every possible assistance to the Irish victims of the crash and their families."
Meanwhile, the Irish consul in Thailand has urged Irish people holidaying in the country to pay attention to local media and to make their family and friends aware of their travel plans.
Eoin Duggan, deputy head of the Irish mission, said officials have visited the Irish survivors and they are in a "stable" condition.
The crash has raised serious questions about the safety record of budget airlines in Asia. However, Udom Tantisprongchai, managing director of Orient Thai Airways, which owns One-Two-Go, defended the airline's record. "This is the first accident in more than a decade that we have been operating," he said. - (additional reporting PA)