Beach tribute for Bali bomb victim

Tributes to surfer Marc Gajardo were led by his family

Family and friends of Bali bomb victim Marc Gajardo braved fierce weather to pay tribute to the surfer on a Cornwall beach on Sunday.

Around 200 people attended the service, at Porthtowan, to sign a book of condolence.

A planned memorial bonfire was cancelled as 90mph winds roared in, but around 200 people gathered at a nearby bar which had been one of his favourites.

The memorial to Mr Gajardo, 30, was held a day after the funeral of 37-year-old teacher Jon Ellwood, who was the first Briton killed in Bali to be laid to rest.

Funeral

Mr Gajardo's father Ray said he hoped the gathering would bring some peace to his son's friends and fellow surfers.

Marc and Hanabeth lived together in Australia

"It might help us as well hopefully," he said. "It's just a tribute thing."

But 64-year-old Mr Gajardo said there would be no closure for him, his wife Carole, 59, and Marc's 22-year-old girlfriend Hanabeth Luke until he was returned to Britain.

"Until we get his body back and have the funeral it will be impossible to move on," he said.

Indonesian authorities have warned the process could take up to three weeks.

'Fantastic man'

Speaking at the service Mr Gajardo's father said: "This is a lovely opportunity to meet a lot of people we had never met - people he has mentioned but we never got the opportunity to know and for them to meet us."

I could not believe when we met some of his surfing friends how terribly upset they were

Marc Gajardo's father

He said the family had received hundreds of tributes and added: "I could not believe when we met some of his surfing friends how terribly upset they were."

One of Mr Gajardo's surfing friends, Nick Lewis, said: "He was a fantastic man, full of life. He was a great guy."

Marc Gajardo was among more than 180 people who died in the blast, which wrecked the Sari nightclub earlier this month.

Miss Luke, whose parents emigrated to Australia four years ago, survived the nightclub blast and was led to safety.