Tributes have been paid this week to Sam Haughian, one of Europe's most talented and promising young endurance runners, who died following a car accident in Johannesburg on Friday night, writes Tom Pollak.

Haughian, who was just 24, was a former student at Kingston College and a past Surrey schools 5,000m champion. At the time of his death he was based at UK Athletics Endurance Performance Centre at St Mary's University College, Twickenham.

One of his fellow students, Mo Farah, who was also in South Africa with the party of UK athletes, chose to watch a cricket match rather than go on the ill-fated car trip.

Haughian was on the final week of a warm-weather training campaign aimed at preparing him for his bid to make Britain's team at 5,000m for this summer's Olympic Games in Athens.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. His physiotherapist, Rebecca Wills, was injured in the accident and underwent surgery.

Haughian's best year was 2002 when he won the English cross country title, the AAA 10,000m title and finished fifth in the Commonwealth Games 5,000m in Manchester.

Dave Moorcroft, chief executive of UK Athletics and himself a former world 5,000m record-holder, said: "This is tragic news and difficult to take in. Sam was an extremely talented athlete, so determined and yet such a humble and pleasant young man. Our hearts go out to his family and our thoughts are also with Rebecca and her family."

Zara Hyde Peters, UK Athletics' head of potential and previously director of the Endurance Performance Centre at Twickenham, said: "Sam was one of my three musketeers along with Chris Thompson and Mo Farah who were out in South Africa with him until a few days ago.

"So many people have been so negative about the endurance running scene. But Sam was one of the bright spots. He was a club runner, a team player and a world class athlete."

Haughian's death overshadowed the Nike AAA National Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park, Birmingham, where competitors and officials held a minute's silence before the men's race.

His premature death was on the minds of most competitors.

James Thie, from Cardiff, said: "Sam was such a nice, friendly person. I don't think anyone would have a bad word to say about him. I spent time with him at training camps especially at Bahrain in December and he was such a fun guy.

"I roomed with him in South Africa. We shared the same funny little musical tastes. I was surprised to discover he had a collection of first and second World War novels which he read avidly."

He added: "The result today will say I ran for my club. But, my three miles were really for Sam and I'm sure I wasn't alone in that."

Haughian's British team-mate from this winter's major cross country championships, Chris Davies from Telford, produced the performance of the day to break the short stage record by 10 seconds.

He said: "I wish Sam had been here. He would have pushed me all the way. The news from South Africa made it very difficult to focus on the race. I have run against Sam a lot and was devastated."