An expatriate football fan from Sussex was killed when his car was crushed by a falling gum tree during a storm in Australia.

Andrew Rimmer, 33, from Hove, was the victim of ferocious 100mph winds, which battered Sydney at the weekend.

The centre forward for the North Sydney Soccer Club was travelling in a car driven by team-mate Terry Champion to watch one of his club's teams play.

They missed a turn-off and as 34-year-old Mr Champion reversed his Hyundai into a driveway, a tree crashed on to the roof.

Mr Rimmer, a former head boy at both Lancing College and Mowden School in Hove, was killed. Mr Champion was trapped but later freed and treated for minor injuries.

Mr Champion said: "There was a big thud on the road. It collapsed the car's whole driving compartment.

"I got pushed down between the two front seats. I realised I could move my limbs and neck and wiggle my fingers.

"Then I turned to Andy. I had hold of his hand and I just kept talking to him telling him it was going to be okay even though I knew he was unconscious."

Mr Champion said the long wait for rescue workers to free the pair felt "like an eternity" as emergency teams fought to clear away live power lines.

The accident happened on Sunday at 5am British time.

Mr Rimmer's parents, Nicholas and Hazel, and his 30-year-old sister Lynne were woken at their homes in Hove four hours later to be told the news.

Mrs Rimmer, who lives in Shirley Drive, said today: "It has been devastating. We have been trying to take it in but it hasn't really sunk in properly. He was such a loving, caring person."

Her husband said: "He was incredibly outgoing. He was always the life and soul of the party and a great friend to everyone. He loved all sports - and a bit of gambling, like his dad."

Mr Rimmer, a devoted fan of Brighton and Hove Albion and Sussex Cricket Club, moved to Australia six years ago and was granted residency last autumn.

He worked for marketing firm PureProfile, whose clients include the Australian post office.

Mrs Rimmer said: "Being a big sports fan, when he was offered a job out in Sydney he leapt at the chance. He loved it out there."

Paul Chan, the firm's chief executive, said: "He was a fantastic member of staff - not just hard-working but very patient, honest and humorous. He'll be very sadly missed. We're all still in disbelief."

Simon Cox, secretary of North Sydney Soccer Club, said: "He had got himself a nice job here and a girlfriend. He was really at the peak of his happiness. It's a terrible tragedy. Andy was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet."

Mr Rimmer and Mr Champion were both due to play for the senior team in the Ku-ring-gai Soccer Premier League final on Saturday.

The team plans to go ahead with the match as a tribute to Mr Rimmer.

A one-minute silence will be held before kick-off and the players will wear black armbands.

Mr Champion said: "I consider myself a very lucky man. I just wish Andrew could have walked away like I did."

Mr Rimmer's girlfriend, Sascha Moore, was on holiday in Spain when a friend rang her on a mobile phone to tell her of the accident. She was due to arrive home in Australia today.

Mr Rimmer's body is due to be flown home to England tomorrow and his family hopes to hold a funeral service at St John the Baptist Church in Palmeira Square, Hove, early next month.

A memorial service in Australia is being planned for this Friday. It will feature Mr Rimmer's favourite song, the Albion anthem Sussex By The Sea.