Mr Davis was three when his Mt Warrigal parents, who'd migrated from England four years earlier, died as their car plunged into Narellan Creek in 1974.

Toys found floating near the wreckage sparked fears that Jason and his six-year-old brother Richard may also have drowned. The plight of the orphaned boys touched the hearts of the Illawarra community which rallied to raise more than $2000 for their flights to England.

Yesterday, Mr Davis said returning to the Illawarra was "heart wrenching" but he regretted not coming back sooner.

"It's really quite weird, I have so many memories that I've held onto, even though I was only three," he said.

"It's just a multitude of emotions, wondering what my life would have been like if we stayed. It's really overwhelming."

For five weeks after the deaths of their parents, the two boys were in the care of Shellharbour couple Sandra and Davide Cossa, who had hoped to adopt them.

The Mercury reported at the time that because the boys had no family in Australia "the matter of their custody had become an inter-departmental Child Welfare and Immigration concern".

"Sandra and Davide knew my mum loved Australia and wanted us to stay here," Mr Davis said.

But it wasn't to be. His aunts arrived from England soon after to decide "with open minds" the future of the two boys.

"I saw Sandra and Davide yesterday for the first time in 38 years. It really hit me to see how shattered they were when we left and I realised I could have had a whole new family. It's really quite weird." Mr Davis, who married his fiancee Natasha during their Australian holiday, yesterday visited the Camden cemetery where his parents were buried.

"It's been so emotional, I'm finding out so many things I didn't know because family back home only know so much.

"If anyone here in Wollongong can remember them, I'd really like to hear from them."

Mr Davis said he and his brother, who also lives in England, would be eternally grateful to the Cossa family and for the "absolutely amazing generosity" of the Illawarra community.

Anyone who knew Mr and Mrs Davis, of Madigan Boulevarde, Mt Warrigal, can email cmardon@illawarramercury.com.au