SINGAPORE - Camp instructor Muhammad Daanish Amran was a lively, jovial person whom "it was impossible to feel unhappy around", the 22-year-old's friends and family said last night.
About 60 people gathered at the void deck of Mr Daanish's block in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 to pay their respects to the victim of last Friday's earthquake.
His parents flew to Kota Kinabalu over the weekend to identify his body which was brought back to Singapore yesterday.
Mr Daanish's uncle, who did not give his name, said: "His father called me on Friday, telling me that (Daanish) was on Mount Kinabalu and could not be contacted. He sounded very worried."
The next day he received the news that the authorities had found Mr Daanish's body.
Mr Daanish's friends told The Straits Times that he was always ready with a good joke and enjoyed telling anecdotes about his work and school life.
A childhood friend, who declined to be named, said: "We don't keep in touch often but when we do, it doesn't feel like much has changed."
The two had bonded over their love for football when Mr Daanish was living in Bishan more than 10 years ago. "He was very active," added the Millennia Institute student.
Mr Daanish's uncle remembers his nephew - who was the eldest of three siblings- as a kind man who helped carry luggage when they went on family trips.
He said: "Whenever we had barbecues, he was always the one cooking the food and serving us."
The last time he saw him was a month ago when they were volunteering at a mosque event.
Colleagues at Camp Challenge, which ran the Mount Kinabalu trip, said that the engineering graduate from Nanyang Polytechnic was passionate about adventure and sports.
The freelance instructor was "the type who would go out of his way to help others", said friend and colleague Farizah Jasin, 24.
Fellow instructor Muhammad Hairi, 23, said that Mr Daanish was "promising" and had the potential to be a full-time instructor at Camp Challenge.
"There was never a doubt about his technical skills or his ability to take care of the pupils," he added. "Before he left for Sabah, he asked about the terrain there and the challenges he may face.
"He was one of the rare instructors who asked me so many questions."
Mr Daanish is due to be buried today.
