THE DEATH of man attacked by a rogue shark while on honeymoon has been described as ‘desperately unlucky and horrific’.

Ian Redmond, 30, of Nelson, was savaged as he snorkelled just 20 yards off shore while in the Seychelles.

His inquest heard that two weeks earlier a French tourist had been killed by the same bull shark.

No other shark attacks had been report around the islands in the past 50 years.

The horror unfolded as the former Nelson and Colne College student was enjoying the second week of his honeymoon with his wife of ten days, Gemma, 27.

Greater Manchester West coroner Alan Walsh said: “Mrs Redmond has suffered unimaginable distress and trauma losing Ian in such desperately unlucky and horrific circumstances.”

The inquest in Bolton heard the former Fisher More RC High School and Nelson and Colne College student, who had won awards in his work as a software developer, was ‘an intelligent, enthusiastic, dedicated and successful man’.

Dozens of others were swimming at the idyllic location of Anse Lazio beach on Praslin, last August when he began to show signs of distress.

Other holidaymakers pulled him from the water and he was attended to by a surgeon and nurses on the beach.

However shark bites to his left limbs were so severe he was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Acting High Commissioner for the Seychelles Government, Bernard Silver, said that prior to August 2011, there had been no reported shark attacks on the island in 50 years.

However, earlier the same month at the beach a French tourist was also killed by a shark in similar circumstances.

The inquest was told Mr and Mrs Redmond were not aware of this when embarking on their honeymoon and that no warnings of any kind were given to the couple.

Mr Silver added that after the Mr Redmond’s death, immediate measures were put in place to ‘eliminate any further occurances’.

These included a ban on swimming in the area and aerial patrols.

Speaking after the inquest, Gemma Redmond, fought back tears as she described her husband as having ‘special qualities which enriched the lives of family and friends’.

She said: “It is the ocean and wildlife can come and go as it pleases.

“I can only hope my husband’s death has made people more aware of the dangers involved in swimming in the waters surrounding whichever country they choose to visit.”

Mrs Redmond also praised the islanders who comforted her in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“The compassion shown towards me in the Seychelles is typical of the people of the islands.

“It is important that tourists continue to visit the country and appreciate its beauty..”

The newly-weds, who has been together for nine years, were planning to move in together on their return to a property Ian had been renovating in Pemberton near Wigan.

A pathologist report said the cause of death was severe shock caused by shark bites to the limbs.

It is believed the species in question was a bull shark.

Recording a verdict of accidental death the coroner added: “Mr Redmond was in the prime of life.

“He would not have known that it would present any danger, there was no warning or signs on that beach and the beach was full of people swimming in the sea.”

”Ian lost his life in the most tragic circumstances and at a time when he was at his happiest.”

After the hearing Mr Silver said: “There are shark fish in the Indian Ocean but there are also sharks off the coast of Cornwall.

”This was a rather awful one-off freak accident involving a rogue shark.”