FRIENDS of a Gwent teacher who died in a rock-climbing accident in South Korea have raised £5,000 in just two days to help pay for his funeral costs.

Kevin Andresen, 30, of Blaina, fell off a coastal path on the island of Jangbong off the west coast of South Korea near Inchon, on May 4.

Friends of Mr Andresen raised more than £5,000 in two days to pay for his cremation service in South Korea and the cost of sending back the ashes to Wales.

The outgoing world religions and environmental science graduate had been teaching English in South Korea for around 18 months.

His girlfriend, Rachel Law, of Newport, was in India at the time and has now returned to Wales.

Grief-stricken pals from his secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, in Pontypool, used Facebook to prompt people to make donations on the gofundme website at the weekend.

School friend Lloyd Hughes, 30, said: “He was incredibly outgoing and friendly and funny seems to be a recurring theme.

“Travelling was a passion of his and he had been over the USA and Canada, Europe and China before he went to Korea.

“But he really found his passion teaching the children in Korea and he absolutely loved the place.

“He was a genuine, nice fellow. Bringing him back has been the main thing. I went to see his mum last Tuesday.

“She’s devastated.”

Mr Andresen’s mother, Gaynor, 52, of Blaina, said: “Kevin was wicked, lively and funny.

“The support I have had has been superb. They are doing everything for me.

People have been so very kind. It’s unbelievable.”

More than 230 people have donated funds, while friends in South Korea have planted a tree with a memorial plaque on a mountain near Pyeongnae, 30 miles east of Seoul, where he taught elementary school children.

One friend wrote on the gofundme site: "The legend that was Kevin lives on, even in the lives of those who were never privileged enough to have met him, but who were fortunate enough to have met those whose lives he had such an enormous impact on."

Another school friend added: “His friends in Korea and at home have been amazing in their support and it just shows how Kevin touched the lives and hearts of people wherever he went.”

Mr Andresen had just finished his masters in sustainability, planning and environmental policy at Cardiff University before travelling to South Korea to teach English.

To make donations for Mr Andresen’s forthcoming memorial service in Wales log on to www.gofundme.com/2vigbc