A HOLIDAYMAKER from Kent died after a coach carrying tourists careered off a road and crashed onto a beach in Turkey. Carl Alexander, 33, of Hill House Road, Stone, near Dartford, was sunbathing on the beach.

His partner, Elaine MacKenzie, 34, was also injured in the crash. It is believed the coach, which was transferring holidaymakers from Dalaman Airport to the resort of Olu Deniz went out of control before running across the Belcekiz beach. It upened up in the sea.

The beach was packed with British tourists at the time. The coach was operated on behalf of Glasgow-based Direct Holidays. A spokesman said a counselling service and early flights home were being arranged for holidaymakers affected.

Meanwhile, friends and neighbours of Mr Alexander have been struggling to come to terms with the news of his death. Next-door neighbour Paul Cochrane said: “I’m shocked. Just four days before the incident, I said ‘hello’ to him as he walked to the shops.”

Roger Bassom, of IW Griffiths car spares, said: “He was a lovely fellow. He tended to keep himself to himself, but he would come in my shop and he was always so nice.”

A spokesman for the British Consulate in Turkey, Nazli Hamitoglu, said Ms MacKenzie had been receiving treatment at Letoon Hospital in Fethiye and added: “She’s okay and luckily her parents were with her in Turkey."

A British woman from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, and two Turkish people were also killed in the tragedy. An incident line has been set up by Direct Holidays for the general public. Call 0141 559 7300.