The service will be a celebration of the achievements of a talented young man who was living his dream of travelling the world.

Tragically, that dream was cut short whilst visiting the tropical island of Pangkor, just off Malaysia on December 22.

David and a friend Daniel, from Chile, set out on foot for a trek through the jungle to view a suspension bridge.

But they were given the wrong directions and, after becoming dehydrated and suffering from heat stroke, David fell into a concrete monsoon drain and broke his neck.

In a heartfelt tribute to her only son, Councillor Andrews told the Dispatch and Herald that David began his travels last March.

He started in Vancouver and travelled down the west coast of Canada before visiting the United States and then New Zealand and Australia.

Councillor Andrews said: "Whilst he was in Australia he met up with his sister Gail and her husband Dan who went out on holiday there in November.

"They also met three Andrews cousins who live in Sydney.

"They all got together and had a lovely time. That was the last time any of the immediate family saw David."

From Sydney David went on to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Most of the time he was travelling on his own but he met up with Daniel whilst staying in a hostel on Pangkor.

Tropical island

Mrs Andrews continued: "It is a wonderful tropical island and, on December 21, they hired mountain bikes and cycled all round the island.

"It was quite a strenuous thing to do so, on December 22, they decided to take things a bit easier and went trekking in the jungle on foot.

"Someone had told them of a very interesting suspension bridge and they wanted to see it.

"But they were given the wrong directions and got lost in the jungle. They didn't have enough drinking water. David began to suffer dehydration and heat stroke and Daniel went to get help.

"As it turned out they were not far from the road. Daniel found workmen and they went back for David, but he had tried to walk along the track following Daniel. He fell and landed in a concrete monsoon drain and broke his neck.

"It was a tragic accident."

Following a private cremation the family - David's parents Alison and Tony, sisters Gail and Jo and his brothers-in-law Dan and Dylan - will be joined by family and friends on Saturday for a celebration of David's life.

It will be held in Tannadice Church at 3 pm, followed by a party at Finavon Hotel.

Alison continued: "Saturday's service is not a funeral, it's a celebration of David's life.

"David was very musical, he was a singer and guitarist so there will be an open mic session at the party."

Alison and her family have lived in Angus for 30 years but have travelled a lot due to work commitments.

David was born in Muscat in Oman and when he was two years old the family moved to Brazil where they spent four years.

Bi-lingual

As a little boy David was bi-lingual in Portuguese.

The family returned to Scotland and, when he was six, David attended Tannadice Primary School.

He continued his education at Cargilfield School in Edinburgh as a boarder before moving to Glenalmond College.

As a school pupil he excelled in sport and music.

He played rugby, was an excellent swimmer and loved fishing and canoeing.

David studied journalism at Telford College, in Edinburgh, completing his studies at Napier University in the capital where he gained his degree.

He did a one year post graduate course at St Andrews in IT and began working as a press officer for a mobile phone company in Cornwall where he developed a love for surf kayaking.

When the company he worked for suffered financial problems David was offered voluntary redundancy.

He decided to use it to fulfil his love of travel and decided the time was right to take a year out.

Alison concluded: "Saturday's service will be a celebration of all David achieved. It will be a cheerful occasion. He had a wonderful sense of humour. Nobody could tell a joke like David and he also wrote some amusing poems, one of which Gail will read at Saturday's service."

Free spirit

Commenting on the tragedy Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville said: "David was a scholar and a free spirit, fulfilling a dream in his trek across Malaysia.

"This tragedy is felt not only by his immediate family, but by all those who know Alison, Tony, the family and the girls.

"Losing a child is something which every parent dreads, but he leaves behind him a legacy which fills his parents with pride and gives courage to face the future.

"Alison is the convener of Social Work and Health for Angus Council. As a councillor she rose the extra mile for her consituents; as a convener she brings exceptional qualities of understanding and compassion.

"These very qualities are the ones which will carry Tony, herself and her girls through this stressful time."