Leeds student killed in MH17 crash

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."