A TEENAGER from Holme Wood has died while on holiday in Thailand.
Anthony Ryan, 17, is believed to have been killed in a motorbike crash in the country on Thursday night during his first trip abroad with a friend.
The former Tong High School pupil, who recently moved to Cornwall to start work as a labourer, was planning to start a college course.
His devastated mum, Clare Wright, 40, said: "He was on his first holiday with his boss from work.
"He was an amazing boy, had just turned his life around and was doing really well.
"He had a good job and was going back to college.
"He had his whole life ahead of him and was the eldest of five brothers.
"They are going to be lost without their big brother and we just want to get him home now."
Anthony lived with Kelly Calvert in the Bradford estate, before he moved last month.
She has now set up a Go Fund Me page in a bid to raise enough money to repatriate the 17-year-old's body after he travelled to Thailand without travel insurance.
"He was a good lad," said Miss Calvert, who is trying to raise £5,000 online.
"He had a hard life, but was loved so much."
The Go Fund Me page describes Anthony as a "boy who loved life and loved everyone around him."
It goes on to say: "He found himself a good job and started to love his new life then tragedy happened.
"He travelled to Thailand with a friend and he had a tragic motorbike accident and died.
"The young boy was 17 and is now stuck in Thailand. His family and friends are desperate to get him home to give him a proper burial.
"I am asking anyone to please get this young boy home, the most we can do as community is pull together and get Anthony home and let’s all give him the send off he deserves."
Family and friends have also organised a balloon release to take place on Monday afternoon to remember Anthony.
Around 200 people are expected to release a balloon at Top Parade, in Holme Wood, at 3.30pm.
Tributes from heartbroken friends have also been paid to the 17-year-old on social media.
Ian Russell wrote: "RIP big man, Heaven got another good lad."
Shane Rhodes added: He was such a safe lad, I remember talking to him near the parade. It's awful what happened, I'll never forget him. R.I.P Anthony."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: "Our staff are assisting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand."
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