‘Down-to-earth, fantastic people’: Young expat couple die hours apart in Perth

Tributes have been shared after the deaths of a young British couple living in Australia.

Jason Francis and his partner Alice Robinson died hours apart from one another in Perth, Western Australia last weekend. Mr Francis, 29, was killed when he was struck by a car outside the home he shared with Ms Robinson in the suburb of Scarborough on Saturday last. He had been on a day out with friends from his rugby club and had just taken a taxi home, reports the BBC. The car was reportedly being driven by an 18-year-old pizza delivery man. Ms Robinson emerged from the house when she noticed flashing emergency lights and was told that the first-responders on the scene were working on her partner. She was said to have been heartbroken over his death and was found dead hours later. Western Australia Police have said that they had launched investigations into each of the deaths and have appealed for witnesses of the fatal road accident to come forward.

"They were two of the finest people you could meet," Sam Diamond, president of the rugby club that Jason had joined, said. "Jason was the sort of person that's always got the time of day for everyone. "Loved talking, loved working out, loved staying fit and healthy. "They were just genuine, down-to-earth, fantastic people."

Mr Francis was in the process of becoming a firefighter while Ms Robinson worked in digital marketing. Over $32,000 AUD has been raised for the couple's families in the wake of the tragedies.