Ruan Calum Crighton died in the tragedy (Image: REX)

A Briton was among dozens killed in the devastating plane crash in Nepal, which was feared to have killed 72 people.

Nepalese officials initially said Ruan Calum Crighton was from the Republic of Ireland, but the British government has since confirmed he is British.

According to the Daily Mail, he was a talented dancer who performed with the Slovak and Finnish national ballets.

He reportedly died in Pokhara a day after his 34th birthday.

The news would have broken the hearts of many in the ballet community in Europe.

A friend in the industry paid tribute to Ruan, calling him “Sunshine”.

The Slovak National Theater dancer said: “I got the info yesterday, but I hoped it wasn’t him.

“Ruan was one of my best friends. We’ve been dancing on stage together for years… I’m devastated.

Ruan Crighton - crash in Nepal

Ruan reportedly died a day after his 34th birthday

epa10406242 Rescue teams work on the wreckage of a Yeti Airlines ATR72 aircraft after the crash in Pokhara, Nepal on January 15, 2023. A Yeti Airlines ATR72 aircraft with 68 passengers and four crew members on board crashed into a canyon after takeoff from Pokhara International Airport . According to the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, 40 bodies have been recovered so far. EPA/BIJAYA NEW WINDOWS

Rescue teams are reportedly giving up hope of finding anyone alive (Photo: EPA)

The wreckage of a crashed plane is pictured in Pokhara on Jan. 15, 2023. - At least 67 people were pronounced dead on Jan. 15 when a plane with 72 on board crashed in Nepal, police said, in the Himalayan country's deadliest air disaster in three years. decades. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP) (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP via Getty Images)

The wreckage of the crashed plane is pictured in Pokhara on January 15, 2023 (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)

“It’s very difficult to say anything about that [him] now. But first he was a ray of sunshine.’

A 2008 BBC news article said Ruan, from Brentwood, Essex, was “ready to be famous”.

At least 68 people have been officially confirmed dead after the tragedy.

But the rescue crew searching the wreckage say they have now lost hope of finding survivors.

It remains unclear what caused the crash, the deadliest plane crash in the Himalayan country in three decades.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder had been recovered from the site.

A spokesman for the Irish Foreign Office said: “The Foreign Office can confirm that one person identified in reports as Irish is a British citizen.

“The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides consular support.

“Our condolences go out to everyone affected by this tragic plane crash.”

An FCDO spokesperson added: “We are supporting the family of a Briton who died in Nepal and are in contact with local authorities.”

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