A MEMORIAL bench has been placed in a popular pub beauty spot in tribute to a young man from Poole who died in Australia.

Harry Evans, 23, died in October after he was bitten by a sea snake while working on a fishing trawler off Groote Eylandt, an island in the Northern Territory. Police said Harry was bitten by the snake while pulling the net onto the boat. Emergency crews were called to the boat but were unable to save him.

The former Poole High School pupil travelled to Australia in August for a four-month trip on the fishing boat.

Following the news of his death, friends and colleagues from the Bermuda Triangle pub in Poole, where Harry had worked for a few months, held a special event called ‘Harry’s Night’ as a tribute to him.

The event raised £650, with the total then doubled by the pub landlord, before Harry’s parents decided to put the money towards a bench.

The money was used to commission a bench from the Beautiful Boat Company, the owners of which, like Harry, trained at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis. Now the bench is in place at The Bankes Arms at Studland.

Harry’s mum Sharon said: “Harry loved The Bankes Arms. We went there for birthdays and drinks and Harry cycled and drove there. He loved the view and the beer garden.”

The bench features the words “Enjoy the view, cheers. Harry Evans”. People who sit on it are being encouraged to share their photos of themselves taking in the view on social media.

Sharon said: “It’s for Harry’s friends, brother and us just to see people enjoying it. We might get nobody sending photos, but everything is instant now and we just thought it would be interesting to see who sits on it and enjoys it.”

A funeral for Harry was held on November 1 at the Harbour View Woodland Burial Ground.

Sharon said: “There was standing room only. It was absolutely packed. It was really positive. We had a proper celebration.”

Share pictures at harrybench@gmail.com and by searching ‘Harrys Bench’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.