A former Brighton College student is today missing presumed killed after the terrorist bomb which ripped apart a Bali night club.

Dan Braden, 28, originally from Hove, was with a group of rugby team mates on Saturday night when the bomb went off on the Indonesian paradise island.

Mr Braden, who worked for a drinks company in Taiwan, had gone to Bali on an end-of-season tour with his rugby team, the Taipei Baboons.

Following the explosion, shocked players spent days searching for any sign of Mr Braden and four other missing team-mates. Yesterday they threw rose petals at the site to remember their friends.

Dan's father has flown to Bali with representatives of his son's employer, Diageo.

Today Dan's grandfather, Harry Meekings of Ranelagh Villas, Hove, spoke of his family's grief.

He said: "Dan was at the heart of where the bomb exploded. It is extremely tragic and awful for the family, as it is for so many families whose loved ones have been affected by what happened."

Daniel's mother Amanda recently moved from her home two doors away from her father to a new address in Kensington Place, Brighton.

She said although the family had not received official confirmation from the Foreign Office, "he was missing and has not been found". She added: "It's a tremendous waste of a talented young life."

A neighbour in Ranelagh Villas said: "I only met Dan three or four times but he was a lovely, sweet lad. I can't believe it - this is so awful."

John Pope, director of activities at Brighton College, said: "I heard through a friend of the family that Dan was missing and I have been hoping he might have been found among the injured. But as time has gone on, things have become pretty black.

"I was Dan's housemaster for 11 years. He was head of Ryle House in a particularly lively year-group. He was popular with the boys but also got things done.

"He was very bright and lively and played rugby for our 2nd XV.

"He went on to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. We don't get many students going there but Dan wanted to open up his horizons. He was quite a liberal thinker in that sense.

"I last saw him four years ago at a school function. He was still the same bright and breezy character and full of life.

"He was still very close to his bunch of friends - Joshua Blett, Nick Fokes and James Temple-Smithson and their families. I should think they will all be hurting at the moment."

Dan, known by his nickname of Arnie to his rugby team-mates, played hooker for the Baboons.

The 21-strong team arrived in Bali three days before the bombing. They played three games before going to the Sari night club at 10pm on Saturday.

The other missing members of the group are an Australian, two South Africans and a Taiwanese national.

Team member Kelvin Bezuidenhout said "As of now we have no news on them. They are still missing."

Isabel Thomas, spokeswoman for Diageo, said: "We are doing all we can to support Mr Braden's family and friends."

Dan studied at Edinburgh University and graduated in 1997. He had also played for Finchley rugby club in the past.

He joined the Baboons in September 2001. The international team is made up of members from every corner of the globe including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Tonga, Japan and the Solomon Islands.

The club tours throughout Asia with annual visits to Bali, Manila in the Philippines and Phuket in Thailand.

Forensic scientists were today combing through the site of the bomb, which killed almost 200 people. Only 44 bodies have so far been identified out of at least 181.

The Foreign Office says 15 Britons were killed and 12 are missing.

Indonesian police were today questioning two witnesses. It has emerged that traces of plastic explosives, of a type used by the military, were found at the scene.

Tourists flew back into Gatwick airport from Bali this morning and spoke of their experiences.

Gerry and Beryl Mooney, from Saltdean, Brighton, were staying at the resort of Sanur.

Mr Mooney, 70, said: "What has happened is dreadful for the local people. We were told that many will be jobless by the end of the week because the tourist economy has just been shattered.

"Certainly, we are both extremely relieved to be home."

Gary Dressel, 31, a sales rep from Fleet, Hampshire, was at a bar called Tubes, five minutes from the Sari Bar.

Mr Dressel criticised the British Government for failing to keep people in Bali informed of what was going on.

He said: "One official told me to ring my mother to find out what was going on."