The family of a New Zealand woman killed in a Thailand motorbike accident say they're devastated at the loss of a "truly amazing person".
Ariana Brown, 43, died when the motorbike she was riding crashed into a tree just hours after winning her first Thai kickboxing fight.
The cherished mother, friend and up-and-coming Muay Thai Fighter had a lot of love to give to those around her.
She was born and raised in Motueka and has been described as a staunch, extremely caring person who was a key part of the community.
Her brother, Ben, said, "She was my little sister. She was beautiful. She was full of energy, a lot of focus and very compassionate."
She was also a passionate Muay Thai, or kickboxing, fighter and had spent the past year training in Thailand.
"She started travelling a couple of years ago, found herself in Thailand and just really, really took to Muay Thai and the whole mixed martial arts experience," said Ben.
Just hours before she died, Ariana won her first fight, fulfilling her dream after knocking out her opponent in the third round – something her family say they're extremely proud of.
"I can't see a good side of this except that she went out on a high and loving every bit of her life," he said.
Tributes for the mother of two have been pouring in, and The Tiger Muay Thai training camp said in a statement: "Ariana trained hard and was a much loved member of the Tiger family."
"She fell in love with Muay Thai, was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and will be sorely missed."
That is a sentiment that's being echoed by her brother and her two sons as they sort out their passports before going to Thailand.
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