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Friends, family farewell Zammit with candles

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HUNDREDS of people have gathered in a Sydney park tonight in an emotional memorial service to farewell Doujon Zammit, the Australian tourist killed while holidaying on a Greek island.

Twenty-year-old Mr Zammit died in an Athens hospital on Friday after his life support was turned off by his father.

A 25-year-old nightclub bouncer has admitted to a Greek court he hit Mr Zammit with a baton outside the Tropicana club on Mykonos` Paradise beach, but claims he did not intend to kill him.

He has been remanded in custody over the young Australian`s death in an incident four people allegedly beat Mr Zammit and five of his friends.

The other three all of whom were charged with "complicity" and "bodily harm" were released on bail.

Mr Zammit`s best mate, Daniel Chamoun, organised the event on behalf of family and close friends through the social networking website Facebook.

"We anticipated about 20 or 30 people to come down here and remember him but we got overwhelmed," Mr Chamoun told the crowd of hundreds, many of whom were holding candles.

"How happy we are that Doujon was remembered by all of you."

Several of Mr Zammit`s friends spoke from the back of a flatbed truck parked beside a lake at Cecil Hills in Sydney`s west, where Mr Zammit played as a child.

A large screen showed images of a happy-go-lucky young man as many of the gathered crowd quietly wept.

Mr Zammit`s father Oliver spoke to the crowd from Greece by phone, his comments transmitted over a loudspeaker.

"I`m so sorry that I`m not there to remember him with you all," he said.

"The people of Greece are sharing the family`s sadness" and are "hurting as much as all of us".

Mr Zammit`s brother, Zeake, spoke through tears and said he had spoken to his brother shortly before his death and recalled him once saying: "That if he ever died ... he just wanted everybody to be happy."

Mr Zammit`s mother Rose was in the crowd but did not speak and did not want to speak with media.

Mr Chamoun farewelled his friend with praise and sadness.

"We`ve lost a true champion and hero and most of all my best friend," Mr Chamoun said.

"I know you are looking down on us and loving the attention. You are always and will be my best friend and I just want you to know that I love you and am proud of what you`ve achieved in your life."

A Zammit family neighbour was the only speaker to make reference to those arrested over Doujon`s death.

"I don`t care what`s happened halfway around the world and the people who have taken you away from us," the young man said.

Members of the crowd were encouraged to float their candles in the nearby lake in a final farewell to the young man.