A STRETFORD couple have paid tribute to their son, who died 10 years ago this week when he was electrocuted while on a conservation project holiday in Fiji.

Luke Molnar, aged 17, died after he touched a metal washing line which had come into contact with a live mains power cable.

The former Knutsford High pupil was three weeks into a month-long trip to the island of Tokoriki when he died, on August 9, 2006.

At an inquest into his death, coroner John Pollard severely criticised the company that had organised the trip for a series of health and safety failings. He recorded a verdict that Luke had been unlawfuly killed.

This week, Luke's parents, Gill and Steve, and their daughter, Sophie, paid tribute to their 'beautiful son'.

They said: "In tribute to our beautiful son Luke John Molnar on the tenth anniversary of his death, we would like to thank everyone for the loyalty, support and love that we have received throughout the most difficult years of our lives.

"Luke was bright, loving, funny and full of life. He would do anything for anyone and he was more precious than words can explain.

"We know that you will always remember Luke for his gentleness, his sense of humour and his unforgettable smile."

The family said of the people who have supported them through their ordeal: "Our journey has been hard but along the way we have had the help and guidance of so many friends.

"In particular Sarah Dean Forrester then HSE; Paul McClorry and Rob Ainscough Slater and Gordon solicitors; Mick Confrey GMP; Kate Green MP; Shane Winser from the Royal Geographic Society and Hilda Palmer from Families Against Corporate Killers.

"Most of all we would like to thank our close family and friends for the overwhelming love that has helped us to make it this far.

"All donations to Luke's fund have been entrusted to the Royal Geographic Society for the training in health and safety of future expedition leaders and to the Rainbow Trust for their work with families of terminally ill children."

Gill and Steve have campaigned tirelessly for stronger regulation of companies that run expeditions for young people like the one Luke was on.

And while they acknowledge progress has been made, they say more still needs to be done to safeguard those on the trips.

Gill and Steve have been supported in their campaign by their MP, Kate Green.

Their efforts have seen the British Standards Institute, which provides guidelines for companies organising such expeditions, tightening up its advice.

But Gill told Messenger that companies are still operating on a self-regulatory basis.

She said: “We have gone as far as we could but we have not got what we wanted, which is for a law to be passed for the firms to be accredited.

“We will still press for regulation.”