The Tribune

THE wife and son of the British diving instructor who was shot dead on his yacht in western New Providence earlier this month are preparing to take his body back to the United Kingdom.

Kathryn Vanhoeck is said to be “absolutely devastated” by his death, his family have revealed to a British newspaper. Her stepson Christopher, 23, flew to the Bahamas last week to join her.

The Vanhoecks worked for Stuart Cove’s diving centre and lived aboard their boat, Lucky Break, at the dock. On May 1 two masked, armed men evaded security and boarded the yacht, accosted Mr Vanhoeck, 51, and demanded cash. They took him off the boat and shot him twice in the head on the dockside.

According to friends Mrs Vanhoeck fled in terror without realising that her husband had been killed. They told the Daily Mail that she was asleep on board the boat and was wakened by the gunshots.

She went on deck and was confronted by one of the gunmen, but ran past him to a friend’s house down the road. Only when they returned with police did they tell her what happened.

Mr Vanhoeck’s brother, Wayne, told the newspaper: “The whole family is just devastated. We don’t know many details about what happened and we are really upset. We have spoken to Kathryn who, as you would expect, is absolutely devastated. We are trying to come to terms with it and get everyone home.”

Mr Vanhoeck had given up his job as a computer technician five years ago to move from the UK to the Bahamas to work as a diver. His brother said Mr Vanhoeck had gone to the Bahamas to “live his dream” but the couple’s Bahamian adventure came to a sudden end 10 days ago when Mr Vanhoeck was murdered.

Diving centre manager Michelle Cove was reported as saying that she had spoken to Mrs Vanhoeck and that she is “very, very distraught”. Ms Cove described him as “irreplaceable”, a devoted husband and father and said that he had a passion for cooking, describing him as an “unbelievable chef”.

Police have launched an island-wide hunt for four suspects.