Joe Welch was one such adventurer. At the age of 19, the talented rugby player and Australian Schoolboy representative travelled with friends to the Thai tourist island of Koh Pha Ngan where the monthly full moon parties are a magnet for youth from around the world.

By all accounts, Welch was having the time of his life. After a night of drinking he went swimming, but got into deep water. He was pulled from the water unconscious, dying two weeks later having not regained consciousness.

A funeral was held for Welch at St Mary's in North Sydney this week where family and friends spoke of the stoic, funny, humble front-rower; a man mountain who played in the Riverview rugby firsts for three years, winning two premierships, in 2008 and again as rugby captain in 2009. He was a young man devoid of ego; a loyal friend and protective brother.

The family priest Father Michael Kelly said Welch's loss was a "tragedy of immeasurable proportions". He was "a good kid who made one mistake and paid the full price".

Joe's parents, the lawyer Peter Welch and high-profile corporate consultant Gabrielle Trainor, spoke publicly yesterday about the tragedy in a bid to highlight the risks of the alcohol-charged full moon parties.

They said their son was an athlete who would not have taken drugs, but they had been concerned about the parties' terrible reputation. ''Even a doctor in ICU in Bangkok told us they should ban them,'' said Ms Trainor.

In a frank and touching eulogy read by family friend Rob Hulls, a former Victorian attorney-general, they captured the fears of every parent whose child seeks out this rite of passage.

''At 19 years of age, Joe's death under any circumstances would be a tragedy of immeasurable proportions,'' they wrote. ''But the manner in which it happened makes it even more so. Late teenagers, summer holidays, beach resorts, partying long, music, alcohol and risk-taking are an alarmingly dangerous mix even in Australia. But as part of the Thai tourism industry, which seems to encourage super-charged levels of all of the above, the mix in Joe's case was fatal.''

The loss of a young man so full of promise has touched a broad section of society, and many attended the funeral. Among the 2000 mourners were the state Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, the former Victorian premier John Brumby and the federal MPs Chris Bowen and Joe Hockey.

Welch's older sister, two younger brothers and friends placed tributes on the coffin, including Joe's Sydney Uni jersey, a football and his DJ-ing headphones. His mother placed articles of faith from their bedside vigil in Bangkok, including a crucifix and lucky elephants from Thai Buddhists who prayed for Joe.

The Australian Rugby Union is establishing a bursary in his name to give a talented young indigenous rugby player the same opportunities Welch had.

Peter Welch does not blame anyone for the loss of his son.

''He was a 19-year-old boy, he loved his life, he played his footy hard and he did everything with great enthusiasm,'' he said. ''Joe made a bad judgment call and the consequence was fatal.''