Student dies in Africa truck horror

A talented graduate who was about to embark on a promising career, has been killed while on safari in Africa.

Claire Spruce, from Cam, near Dursley, Gloucestershire, was on the trip of a lifetime celebrating the end of her student life when she was hit by a lorry.

Miss Spruce, who was an outstanding student and had just completed a doctorate in clinical psychology, would have been 27 on Monday.

She had started her year-long trip in September, travelling through the continent with tour group Absolute Africa.

She had visited Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar and was due to volunteer with an African charity before continuing her travels.

The group had been in Malawi and was waiting to cross the border to Zambia on Friday, November 7, when tragedy struck.

Its coach was parked at the border and Miss Spruce and other members of the group crossed the road to buy lemonade.

Members of the group scattered as a lorry hurtled towards them but Miss Spruce fell and was hit and killed by the vehicle. Her body is due to arrive back in the UK this morning (November 15).

The lorry driver was a 24-year-old man with no licence. After the incident he tried to escape but was caught by the driver of Miss Spruce's tour group. He is now in Zambia and will face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Miss Spruce's father David said: "In no way do we blame Absolute Africa and we would like to thank them for their help and support.

"Travelling was Claire's passion, she lived for it. She had been all over the world to Africa, China, India, Australia and Thailand. She was a highly accomplished young woman, she loved life and lived it to the full."

The former Rednock School pupil was a grade-eight pianist, who had recently played at a friend's wedding and at an event at Gloucester Cathedral.

She achieved a first-class degree in psychology from Aston University before becoming the youngest person to be selected to do a doctorate at Southampton University.

It was there that she met her boyfriend Mohammed Munawar.

He said: "She was a lovely, warm, generous person; her intelligence was without doubt and she was very sociable and had lots of friends.

"She was the kind of person who knew what she wanted and went for it, she wouldn't get tied down by the small things. So many people are in shock and will miss her so much."

Her funeral is at St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Cam, on Wednesday, November 26, at 2pm.