A 78-year-old Israeli man who died after being hit by a car in Ramsgate has been described as someone who “radiated so much kindness”.

Yoram Hirshfeld and his daughter – Noga Sella, 40, a Cambridge physicist – were killed when a black Alfa Romeo collided with five pedestrians, all from the same family.

A girl of primary school age also suffered serious injuries in the incident opposite Royal Harbour multi-storey car park in Leopold Street on Wednesday night and was taken to a London Hospital.

A vigil was held on Thursday evening at the scene of the crash to pay tribute to the family.

Speaking today, Amnon Eden, a former student of Mr Hirshfeld, said: “His teaching was legendary.

"He knew how to explain complex math at the highest order in a way that even I, not a mathematician, and dyslexic to boot, could understand.”

Mr Eden, the principal scientist at think tank sapience.org, first met Mr Hirshfeld around 25 years ago, when the latter stood in as a subsitute for his first year algebra lecturer at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Mr Hirshfeld became Mr Eden’s master’s and PHD co-supervisor when he studied computer science. He said when he “needed help with mathematical logic, he was there to guide me”.

Mr Eden told the PA news agency he was sorry that his former professor died in “such a tragic and unnecessary manner”.

He added: “Yoram deserves an obituary for being the greatest teacher and a brilliant mathematician."

Tributes have also been paid to Ms Sella, who was a girl guides leader with 2nd Milton Guides and Milton Rangers in Cambridgeshire.

On Facebook, Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Noga Sella, Leader with 2nd Milton Guides & Milton Rangers.

“Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this time.”

Oded Sharon, a friend who met Ms Hirshfeld when they studied together at university, said: “We went to university together 20 years ago and became close friends back then.

“We shared a sense of humour and bonded over geeky things like Star Trek. Noga was one of the kindest, smartest, rare kind of good people I knew.”

Following the incident on Wedneday night, a 30-year-old man from Ramsgate was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.