Leeds University student killed in Ukrainian plane crash

A charity appeal page set up by a victim of flight MH17, who was originally from Leicester, has passed the £10,000 mark after attracting new donations following his death.

More than 650 people have donated to the Kidasha charity on the JustGiving page set up by 20-year-old Richard Mayne.

Richard set up the appeal in January before travelling to Nepal for voluntary work in March.

Kidasha, which helps families living in poverty in Nepal with healthcare and other needs, said the proceeds from the page will be used to help repair a shelter Richard spent time at in Nepal.

READ: Two East Midlands students killed in Ukrainian plane crash

Thousands of pounds have been donated to an online charity fundraising appeal set up by a Leeds university student, killed on the Malaysian Airways flight that crashed in Ukraine.

Twenty year old Richard Mayne set up the page six months ago to raise funds for disadvantaged children in Nepal. Since the news of his death, the total has reached almost five thousand pounds. It comes as David Cameron paid tribute to the victims and expressed his deepest sympathy to their families.

Tributes have been paid to Leeds University student Richard Mayne, 20, who is believed to have been on board the Boeing 777-200 aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur which was apparently shot down over the war-torn country this week.

It is believed a student from Leeds University is among the 298 dead in the Malaysian Airlines crash in Ukraine.

The 20-year-old, who had just completed his second year studying maths and finance has not been named officially, but friends on social media have today paid tributes as has the university, which expressed its sadness at the news.

The aircraft came down near the Russian border - the site is being examined to find out if the crash was caused by a terrorist missile. Lisa Adlam reports:

Staff at the University of Leeds say they are 'saddened' to hear of the death of second year maths and finance student Richard Mayne.

Mr Mayne was among 298 people, including 9 Britons, who were killed when a Malaysian Airlines plane is believed to have been shot down over eastern Ukraine.

In a statement the University said:

A former school of a Leeds university student who died in the MH17 crash in Ukraine yesterday say they are "devastated" to hear of his death.

Richard Mayne, who was originally from Leicestershire, was studying maths and finance at the University of Leeds.

The father of a student from Leicester who died in the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crash says he is 'beyond devastated'.

20-year-old Richard Mayne, who was a former pupil at Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth, was among hundreds of people who were killed when the plane came down.

The former headteacher of a man killed during yesterday's Malaysia Airlines attack says his school is "devastated" by his death.

J R Wood, headmaster at the Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth - which was attended by Richard Mayne before he went to Leeds University - said his former pupil was "an extremely pleasant and thoughtful young man who gave his time generously for everyone".

A British university student is feared to have been among the 298 people aboard the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight when it crashed in eastern Ukraine.

Tributes have been paid to Richard Mayne, 20, who is believed to have been on board the Boeing 777-200 aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur which was apparently shot down over the war-torn country yesterday.

Nine Britons are known to have died in the crash, including two Newcastle United fans, John Alder and Liam Sweeney, and World Health Organisation media officer Glenn Thomas.

Mr Mayne, from Leicester, was studying maths and finance at Leeds University and had recently returned from a charity fund-raising trip to Mount Everest in March.

Read: Tributes pour in for Leeds student feared killed on MH17

His former school in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, described him as an "extremely pleasant and thoughtful young man" who had a "great thirst for life".

John Wood, headmaster at The Dixie Grammar School, said: "All of us in The Dixie Grammar School community are devastated to hear the tragic news of Richard Mayne's death on the Malaysian Airlines flight.

"Richard was a great all rounder, good academically and also a keen sportsman.

"It is indicative of his high standing at school that Richard was our deputy head boy, having been appointed following a rigorous selection process which included a vote by all students and staff.

"But more importantly than this, Richard was an extremely pleasant and thoughtful young man who gave his time generously for everyone."

Mr Wood said he saw his former pupil a month ago when they discussed Mr Mayne's trip to Mount Everest base camp in March. The student raised more than £1,000 for the Kidasha charity which supports disadvantaged and vulnerable children in Nepal, according to his Justgiving page.

Mr Wood added: "Richard had a great thirst for life and he wanted to make the world a better place. It is tragic that his life has been cut short, especially under these circumstances - he had such a great future ahead of him.

"The thoughts of all of us at The Dixie Grammar School are with Richard's family and friends at this most difficult time. He will be sorely missed."