AN INQUEST into the death of a Poole man who was bitten by a sea snake in Australia opened yesterday.

Harry Evans, 23, was bitten at around 9am local time on October 4 last year. He died around 45 minutes later.

He had been working on trawler Ocean Explorer off Groote Eylandt island, 400 miles east of Darwin in the Northern Territory.

It is believed to be the first recorded death from a sea snake in Australia.

On Monday afternoon, an inquest was opened and adjourned at Bournemouth town hall. It was heard that Mr Evans was bitten while lowering a fishing net onto the deck of the trawler.

The cause of his death was given as ‘sea snake bite’ by doctors in Australia.

Harry’s mother Sharon Evans, who lives in Poole, told the Daily Echo after her son’s death: “Harry was the happiest he had ever been as an adult on that boat.

“He knew he was coming home and he spoke to me on Tuesday. He knew we were all here and he was loved. He was so happy.

“Harry was had the kindest heart and he had a great interest in people.”

Harry, who went to Oakdale Middle School and Poole High School, travelled to Australia in August 2018 for a four-month trip on the fishing boat. His twin brother George said he was a “funny guy with a massive heart”.