TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘proud Yorkshireman’ and Barnsley scientist after he died in an explosion onboard a cargo ship in Malaysia.
Darren Holling, 49, grew up in Barnsley and attended Kingstone School before he went onto study chemistry at the University of Durham.
He was a partner at Burgoynes - an international partnership of forensic scientists and engineers - and was an expert in cargo ships, fires and explosions.
Darren was based in Singapore having moved to Asia in 2013 after transferring from his Stevenage office.
During his time, he had investigated hundreds of fires, explosions and chemical incidents across the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia.
He was investigating a fire when the explosion occurred onboard the MV Kyparissia last Friday.
The blast unexpectedly ripped through the vessel and Darren was sadly caught in the blaze.
His mum, Susan Holling, told the Chronicle that Darren was always into science growing up.
She said: “He was always into his chemistry.
“He liked to gather scrap like aluminium cans, he used to collect them and he used that bit of money to help him with university.
“He was a level-headed lad and he loved a laugh and joke with his mates.
“He liked his books to read but he did go out and about.
“He had plenty of friends.
“There was a group of them that used to meet up.”
She spoke with Darren almost every day - and is hoping to see him before his funeral in Asia later this month.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“I didn’t realise how dangerous his job was.
“I would always send him a message saying I’m going to bed and he’d message me when he’d woken up.
“Now I’ve got WhatsApp we’d always have a talk so at least I had that.
“They’re going to do the funeral in Singapore on November 23 and we’re hoping we can link up on a screen and watch.
“We’re hoping to put a wake on afterwards.
“I’m hoping they’ll let me see him but I’m not sure.”
Susan says she has some comfort that he’s now with his dad Stephen and brother Duncan, who died on Valentine’s Day last year.
He leaves behind his wife, Olivia Koentjoro, and March would have been the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary and they were together for ten years before that.
Olivia said Darren threw himself into his job and was a ‘proper Yorkshireman’ - and he loved a pork pie.
She told the Chronicle: “We were going to be together 25 years come March.
“I met him at uni where we did chemistry together.
“There wasn’t a job that Darren said no to.
“During Covid he spent six months in South Africa because he went on a job and he couldn’t come home because of the restrictions.
“The first week we got to Singapore he was on a ship at 3am and he was off.
“That’s the nature of the job - it’s always an emergency and last minute.”
Olivia said Darren loved his job and that he embodied a true Yorkshireman.
“When he worked in the UK most of the things he handled were washing machine fires,” she added.
“He could knock those out really quickly.
“He used to fly from Luton, go to Northern Ireland, and then be home at night.
“The chance to work in Asia came up and out here it’s all ship or factory fires.
“The job really changed.
“He loved it.
“The day he left he got an emergency call at 11pm and was out of the door by 1am on his way to a different country.
“He embodies that Yorkshire hard-working spirit for sure.
“He loved a good pork pie.
“Coming home that was always the first port of call.
“When he was young he did scrapping and when we were younger he took me to France on that money.
“We were together when we had no money and obviously as years go by you get a bit more.
“It’s life.”
Engineer Diaday Jason Hernia, 39, from the Philippines, and safety inspector Sugumaran Kolanthai, 59, from Malaysia, also died in the explosion, while a number of others were injured.
Burgoynes have also paid tribute to Darren following his death.
They said: “All at Burgoynes share profound sadness in announcing the death of our valued colleague and friend, Dr Darren Holling.
“Darren passed away on November 7 following a reported explosion on board a container ship in Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia.
“He was an immensely popular figure and a very highly regarded fire investigator - his loss will be felt keenly by his colleagues and clients alike.
“Our thoughts are with Darren’s family and friends.”
