A COUPLE'S plans for a new life in India were shattered when a 45-year-old man drowned weeks before his wedding.

Kevin Youdan was due to marry Sandra Shaw from Hertfordshire on October 17 but drowned in the Arabian Sea on September 19.

The couple were planning to live in Goa and Mr Youdan flew out to the country three weeks ago to set up home.

His fiance, who had stayed in England, received the devastating news by telephone.

"She then flew to India for the cremation on September 25. Mr Youdan's ashes were scattered in the River Ganges.

His parents, Gerry and Win of St Andrews Road, Warminster, are still in a state of shock after the sudden death of their son.

Mrs Youdan said: "We received a postcard from him on the same morning. We heard he was pulled from the water but nobody was able to resuscitate him.

"The Arabian Sea is quite notorious for its strong currents and he was never a strong swimmer.

"He must have gone into the sea to cool off, as his postcard said it was really hot over there.

"He had never been a big traveller but has been to India several times and loved everything about the country. He said the people were so friendly.

"We are absolutely devastated and so is Sandra. He met her while on holiday in India 18 months ago. She was looking forward to joining him but will stay in England when she gets back."

For the past five years, Mr Youdan was joint chairman of Corsley show horticultural committee and spent two years as secretary of Frome Show.

Mrs Youdan said: "He was a very good organiser and was good at coming up with fresh ideas. He used to travel to other shows to breathe new life into the ones back here."

Mr Youdan was born in Devon on June 20 1957. He went to Wellsway School in Keynsham before working for a builder's merchants in Bristol.

After studying for a wood science degree in Gloucester he was manager of the wood treatment plant at Longleat.

In 1991 he married Stephanie, who now runs the Corsley Post Office. After their divorce in February, Mr Youdan lived in Cornwall.