THE devastated family of a Gwent man killed in a car crash in Thailand have paid tribute to a "lovely boy".

Ian Henson, (pictured) , 40, from Caldicot, died instantly on Friday, five hours' drive south of Bangkok en route to the holiday island of Ko Samui when the truck he was travelling in swerved off the road and hit a tree.

The truck was being driven by Mr Henson's 34-year-old Thai girlfriend Noi. Thai police are now investigating the crash.

The couple had spent last week with Mr Henson's twin sister Libby Cussen in the Thai capital and were due to meet up in Ko Samui for a relaxing break to celebrate their joint birthday.

Mr Henson and his girlfriend decided to drive, while his sister was due to fly from Bangkok.

His heartbroken family paid tribute to him from their home in Wentwood View, Caldicot. His parents Ken and Phyllis, both 78, and sister Libby, now back in the UK, said they were "devastated" by his death.

Mrs Henson said: "We are a very close and happy family and have been absolutely shattered by Ian's death."

Mr Henson said: "He was a lovely boy and very sensitive. At times he could be very quiet but at other times he could be the life and soul of the party."

Mrs Henson said that Ian's 42- year-old brother Mark was also distraught by his death. Sister Libby said: "In a way I feel lucky in that I had the chance to spend the last few days of Ian's life with him. When I received the phone call with the terrible news at my hotel in Bangkok I thought it was my wake-up call to catch my flight to meet them in Ko Samui.

"I really feel for Noi who is a very genuine and lovely girl and in the days I spent with them I could see they were very much in love."

A former pupil at Caldicot Comprehensive, Mr Henson had been working as a senior quantity surveyor for a German company building a high-speed train network in Taiwan. He previously worked in China where he met his girlfriend.

He often travelled to Thailand during breaks from his job and his brother Mark had also visited the country with him. Mr Henson had paid for his sister to join him and his girlfriend to celebrate their fortieth birthday.

His family say they are unsure when his body is due to be flown back home and do not know when an inquest will take place.