THE DEVASTATED family of a young Hampshire dad who died suddenly have been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends who have raised more than £1,000 in just two days to help pay for his funeral.

Shocked by the sudden death of Josh Payne, family friend Shona Hunter felt compelled to do something to help his distraught family as they try to come to terms with their loss.

So the 19-year-old set up a fundraising page in a bid to raise enough money to help his loved ones with the cost of his funeral and ensure he gets the send off he deserves.

Initially her target was to raise £1,000 but after an outpouring of donations, which saw £1,050 raised within just 48 hours, the mum-of-one now hopes to collect £2,000 to ease the financial pressures on his family.

As previously reported, Josh, dad to an 11-month-old son and a life-long Saints fans who up until this year never missed a game, was taken into Southampton General Hospital on May 14.

It is understood that doctors are still trying to understand why the former Woodlands Secondary School pupil died.

When news of his death spread around a hundred of his friends gathered in Thornhill to pay an emotional tribute to him, releasing dozens of red and white balloons and lanterns into the sky.

Shona, who lives in Shirley, was one of those at the tribute and afterwards got to work on setting up an online page to raise money for his funeral, but never believed she would raise so much, so quickly.

She said: “It isn’t a nice thing to say goodbye to your son, brother or daddy, especially at such a young age so I just thought it would be a nice gesture for his mum, if we could all make a little donation towards his funeral and help them out.

“By giving a little donation this will mean Josh will get the best send of he deserves.

“I know funerals are really expensive and his death was such a shock to everyone. Josh was just such a lovely boy.

“I went to school with him but I also got to know his mum really well because she was a dinner lady there. She would always ask me about what was going on in my life and so I thought it would just be a nice thing to do if we could all help with the funeral costs.

“I never thought we would raise so much money so quickly and it is thanks to everyone who has donated. I just hope more people will help and support his family.”

Overwhelmed by the support, Josh's mum Sandy added: "I am so overwhelmed and grateful to everybody who has contributed and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

"Josh was special to me, he was one of the loves of my life, but I didn't realise just how loved he was and how many lives he touched."

To make a donation visit gofundme.com/uunuyg.