Tsunami victim is finally identified and laid to rest (From Penarth Times)

Tsunami victim is finally identified and laid to rest

THE body of a Penarth man killed in last year"s tsunami disaster has now been identified and returned to the UK.

Kevin John McCarthy, aged 33, was on holiday in the Thai resort of Khao Lak with his girlfriend when the tsunami struck on Boxing Day.

Kevin was also known as "Sam" to his friends.

The family did not receive formal notification that the body had been identified until a fortnight ago.

A funeral service for Kevin McCarthy was held yesterday at Thornhill Crematorium.

A memorial service was also held at St Joseph"s Church in Penarth on January 14.

Kevin"s brother, Paul McCarthy and his brother-in-law, Steve Andrews, both from Penarth, flew to Thailand carrying with them DNA samples to help in the search for Kevin after the disaster.

Kevin attended St Joseph"s Primary School in Penarth before going on to St Cadoc"s Comprehensive School (now St Richard Gwyn) in Barry.