TRIBUTES have been paid to a student from North Yorkshire who has died suddenly during a trip to Australia.

Victoria Atlay died on Tuesday, July 21, just days after arriving Down Under ahead of a year-long trip.

The 20-year-old was a media and communications student at Swansea University and is believed to be originally from York. Details have not been revealed but her death is not being treated as suspicious.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed the tragedy and added: “We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.”

Victoria, known as Vicky, was a camera assistant with Swansea students' union TV channel SU-TV, where station manager Sophie Wiggins said colleagues were devastated by the news.

"She was so excited to go to Australia. I only said goodbye to her on Saturday,” she said.

"Vicky was lovely and kind and enthusiastic and caring. She loved life and couldn't help you enough. She was always involved with the university and involved in the newspaper and wanted to go into the media, it's so sad."

A statement posted on the SUTV Facebook page said: "We would like to give our condolences to one of our enthusiastic members who passed away.

“Vicky Atlay was a huge asset to SUTV. She helped out with a variety of events such as Oktoberfest, Strictly Come Dancing, and our short film ‘What once was’. Our thoughts are with her friends and family."