Contractors have banded together to support the family of a young Irishman killed in a Christmas Day crash near Ashburton, leaving his loved ones overwhelmed.

A dozen contractors have donated a day's worth of work to raise funds to cover the cost of repatriating the body of Tim O'Dwyer back to Ireland, and for the charity that helped him get home.

The 20-year-old died in a Christmas Day crash on the Methven Highway, leaving his family back in County Clare, in the west of Ireland, absolutely devastated.

But, they say, supportive gestures from Mid Cantabrians have left Tim's family grateful and blown away.

His mum, Carolyn O'Dwyer, told the Guardian "we now know why so many young people from Ireland want to work in New Zealand, it's an amazing community".

"He was only working with Pa Nagle contacting for a short space of time but the help and support from Pa has been unbelievable and he went the extra mile and actually flew home with Tim for us.

"You couldn't wish for a better employer for any young person looking to travel to new Zealand to work."

The family also appreciated all the messages of support and condolences from friends he made while working near Hamilton for another employer for the first couple of months he was in New Zealand.

"Also distant relatives of the O'Dwyer family living in the area, Helen Todd and Mary Anne Roberts, attended a ceremony on our behalf before he was taken home, we'd like to thank them for representing our family and being there for Tim."

Carolyn said her son's dream since he was 14 was to travel to New Zealand to do silage contracting.

"How unfortunate his dream ended just three months in."

Tim was farewelled at a funeral in Ireland on Tuesday.

She believed funds would be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families, repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.

Tim's death was the fifth on Ashburton District roads last year, and the third since November.

That was up from three in total in 2022.

By Daisy Hudson