THE best friend of Chorley nurse Christine Rowe, killed in a minibus crash in South Africa, has told The Citizen she is yet to come to terms with her devastating loss.

Debra Hunt, a staff nurse at Chorley Hospital's Brindle ward, said Christine had left an irreplaceable gap in her life.

"She had the kindest, biggest heart and was so caring," said Debra.

"It's just so terrible to lose her like this, you don't go on holiday to die."

Christine, who was godmother to Debra's one-year-old daughter Grace, was killed with her fiancee Neil Pike, when the bus they were travelling in crashed on New Year's Eve.

They were among eight British tourists who died near Harrismith when their minibus overturned as the driver swerved to avoid a pedestrian.

Christine, 30, from Freckleton, lived with Neil, 35, a computer engineer at BAE Systems at Warton near Preston.

She had been a staff nurse on Brindle ward for a year and was also a part time Territorial Army soldier.

Mother-of-two Debra said she and another pal, Joanne Bingham from Preston, had been best friends with Christine since meeting six years ago when they started a nursing degree at the University of Central Lancashire.

"We qualified three years ago and have remained very close friends. Christine always wanted children and so I decided to make her godmother to my second daughter, Grace. It was the only thing I could give her.

"Christine and I could tell each other anything, good or bad, and arguments were forgotten in an instant.

"She's going to leave a massive gap, not only in my life, but in those of everyone who works at Chorley Hospital."

Debra, 34, who lives in Aspull, Wigan, and also has seven-year-old daughter Georgia, said Christine worked nights so she could spend more time with her patients.

"She was so devoted to her patients," said Debra.

"She always had a smile for them and seemed happy all the time, her death is going to leave a big hole here."

The last time the pair saw each other was to exchange Christmas presents. "Christine always bought me earrings," said Debra. "I'd wear them for 12 months and then she'd buy me some new ones.

"The last time we were in contact was when she arrived in South Africa and she sent me a text message. I replied saying 'take care'.

"I'll miss her so much. Some days I wake up and think it's not real, but then I see a news report and realise it is. I'm just taking it one day at a time."