A FORMER Swindon man was shot dead in a late-night robbery in the Bahamas, sparking a manhunt for his killers.

Gary Vanhoeck, 44, whose son, 24-year-old Chris is still thought to live in Swindon, was pronounced dead by local police on Friday, May 1, after armed robbers barged into his home at around 10pm.

Mr Vanhoeck is thought to have been relaxing on the yacht he lived on with wife Kathryn, 42, when he was accosted by two men, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The intruders are thought to have burst in armed with handguns and demanded cash from their victim before firing two shots towards Mr Vanhoeck and running away.

Police have said they are searching for four men in connection with the incident, which took place at Stuart Cove in western New Providence.

Mr Vanhoeck, formerly of Grimsby, has been living in the Bahamas for five years since packing up his life in the UK, and had been working as a diving instructor.

He had been the dock manager at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, a snorkel and diving operation.

Before leaving for the Bahamas he had worked in Swindon as a computer technician for a radio company.

His family, including brother, Wayne, are receiving support from the Foreign Office as the local police force have launched an investigation into four men thought to have been involved in the incident.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in the Bahamas. We are providing the family with consular assistance at this very difficult time."

A statement from Nassau Police said: "Police have launched an island-wide manhunt for the suspects responsible for a shooting incident that left a man dead on Friday 1st May.

"According to reports, around 10pm, a man who is a British national residing in the Bahamas for a number of years, was at home on his sailboat located at western New Providence near a place where he is employed, when two men armed with handguns accosted him and demanded cash.

"The men fired two shots hitting the victim before fleeing on foot.

"The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are searching for four men in connection with this incident. Investigations are ongoing."