A NEWPORT man has died in the Bahamas just one day after moving there to start a new job.

Christopher Wysome, 42, (pictured) arrived in the Bahamas on Saturday where he was due to start a new contract as a mechanical foreman for the Grand Bahama ship yard. But the following day, he was killed in a crash after the car he was travelling in hit a rubber tree.

His brother, David Wysome, 35, from Rudry Street, Newport, said: "We are all absolutely devastated about this."

He added that their mother, Catherine, is finding it particularly difficult to cope with the loss.

The Wysome family found out about his death on Monday after a telephone call from Christopher's managing director.

Mr Wysome had been living in Liverpool for the past 18-months, where he worked for Camellaird shipping company.

His move to an executive house in the Free Port area of Grand Bahama was supposed to be a new start for him.

Mr Wysome had travelled all around the world during his life, but lived in The Old Barn, St Julians, and Brynglas when he was in Newport.

As a schoolboy he attended St Mary's and St Joseph's High School in Newport.

Also known as 'Wazzo', Mr Wysome was a familiar face at Newport High School Old Boys Rugby Club and Newport Saracens - two of the rugby clubs he played for during his youth.

He was divorced from wife, Julie, and had a son, Gareth. His mother, and father, John, live in Allt-yr-Yn.

Mr Wysome's brother David said: "He had only been in the Bahamas one day when the accident happened.

"The last time I spoke to Chris was the Saturday before he went away. "We went to the pub to watch the rugby. He was in great spirits and was really looking forward to his new job. He was on a one-year contract but I think, given the chance, he was looking to stay for longer.

"He will not be buried in the Bahamas. Mum and Dad are hoping to bring him home, although a date for this has not been set."

Mr Wysome died after sustaining multiple injuries after the car he was travelling in crashed into a tree in Free Port, local police said.

Mr Wysome was the only passenger in the Mazda car which was being driven by a work colleague from the Grand Bahama shipyard.

Fire crews cut Mr Wysome out of the wreckage of the car, but he had died instantly in the crash.

The driver of the car, Fergus Peter Breakspeare, 28, is in hospital with multiple injuries.