Gavin Sexton had worked for Hampshire fire service for 12 years

British rescue workers discovered the body of Gavin Sexton, 36, in debris on Sunday.

He was thought to have been travelling from India to Turkey when the tremor hit the city of Bam at 0158 GMT on Boxing Day, destroying 80% of the area.

He had worked as a leading firefighter at both Redbridge Hill station in Southampton and at Southsea station near Portsmouth.

'Not strangers'

Hampshire fire service, which has sent seven rescuers to Iran, said Mr Sexton left in August 2003 after 12 years' service to travel the world.

Hampshire firefighter Peter Cook, who is part of the 68-strong UK rescue team, told the BBC: "It was a shock, but we would rather it was us here finding him and doing what we can than strangers.

"I have known Gavin for several years.

"He's been in the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service for 12 years and I've known him for most of that time on and off, working with him and doing various sports as well - as have several of my colleagues here in Iran.

"Gavin's body - because of the situation out here, there was just not any physical way he could have been brought home I'm afraid.

Rescue teams due to leave Iran

"Having said that, we have managed to go to the site today and recover all his belongings and we are going to repatriate those to his family."

More than 25,000 people are thought to have been killed in the earthquake which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale.

No Hampshire rescuers were involved in finding Mr Sexton's body, the fire service said.

Mr Sexton's father, Alan, of Marchwood, Southampton, said his son was determined to fulfil a lifelong dream to see the world.

"His zest for life and spiritual depth were an inspiration to all those who knew him," he said.

"At the age of 35, he sold his house, stored his possessions, and so financed a two-year career break.

"(During his world trip) he was held up at gunpoint by armed rebels in the jungle, narrowly missed a hurricane, and was confronted by a lunatic gunman in a public park in broad daylight.

Graveside ceremony

"In his last e-mail, he reported from Bam: 'Main thing is you know I'm safe and well here... bandits haven't got me (yet)'.

"We will all miss him terribly, but draw comfort from the fact that he was living his dream."

Due to the large number of dead, Mr Sexton's body was immediately buried in Bam by the Iranian authorities.

Former colleagues held a simple ceremony at the graveside on Monday.

A motorbike that Mr Sexton bought in Nepal would be among the items brought home.

Rescue crews from Hampshire, Essex and Kent fire services were preparing to fly home on Tuesday after hopes of finding any more survivors faded.