Malaysia Airlines MH17: Family Speak of 'Devastation' at Death of Uni Student Ben Pocock

The family of Ben Pocock, a University of Loughborough student revealed to be among the nine Britons killed in the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crash, have spoken of their "devastation" at their loss.

In a statement released through the Press Association, the family said: "Ben was excited to be travelling to Perth, Australia, to commence six months of study at the University of Western Australia as part of his international business management degree at Loughborough University.

"He was a gifted academic, talented athlete but more importantly a warm, caring, fun-loving son and brother who had an extremely bright future ahead of him.

"Ben is going to be terribly missed not only by his family but by the wider Keynsham community where he made so many long-lasting friends."

Pocock, believed to be in his early 20s, is the second British university student revealed to be among those killed in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight that has killed 298 people.

He played for St Mary Redcliffe Cricket Club, and on the Facebook page for the club's social group, a member posted this morning: "I can't believe it. Ben Pocock good fun loving bloke too young to be taken from his family and friends. Thoughts go out to his family."

Among the 298 total dead are nine British citizens. Currently five other names have been released: student Richard Mayne, Newcastle United fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney, WHO spokesman Glenn Thomas, who was travelling to Melbourne to take part in an AIDS conference, and South African Cameron Dalziel, who was travelling home to wife in Malaysia on a British passport.