A British woman has been shot dead and her husband critically injured on honeymoon in the Caribbean.

Reports suggest that the newlyweds, both 31, were asleep in their luxury cottage in the Cocos Hotel resort on Antigua when they were attacked during the night.

Catherine Mullany, a doctor, died from her injuries after the shooting on the last night of the couple's honeymoon. Reports in the Antigua Sun newspaper suggest that Mrs Mullany was shot in the head while her husband received a single gunshot wound to his neck.

Mr Mullany, a physiotherapist, was rushed to the Holberton Hospital, where he remains critically injured.

The couple arrived in Antigua on July 14 for a two-week stay and were due to end their trip today.

David and Rachel Bowen, the parents of Mrs Mullany, said: “We are deeply shocked and devastated at the recent events in Antigua and are struggling to comprehend what has happened to Ben and Catherine."

The local police said they were working on the theory that the attack was a robbery “gone bad” with the assailants entering the cottage where the couple were staying at around 5am. The individual cottages in the resort are on a hill overlooking two white sand beaches.

The married couple, known as Cath and Ben to their friends, held a white wedding on July 12 in the village of Pontardawe near Swansea.

A friend who was at the celebration, said: “We are all just devastated. When we waved them off they were the happiest couple in the world.

“They were a very devoted couple and had everything to look forward to in life. We can’t believe that Cath is gone. We are just praying that Ben will pull through.”

Catherine, a Welsh speaker, worked in a local hospital after training to be a doctor at the University of London. Her husband trained in physiotherapy at the University of the West of England.

A former colleague said: “They were both very dedicated and loved their jobs. It is such a tragic loss.”

Dozens of pictures of the Mullanys’ wedding day are posted on one social networking site.

One comment read: “Congratulations! Wishing you and your husband the happiest of lives together xxx.”

Mrs Mullany listed her interests as sewing, cooking, reading and gardening. She added: “Worryingly similar to retired people now that I think about it.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said today: “We can confirm a British couple were shot in Antigua yesterday. We can confirm that one of the British nationals died and the other is in a critical condition.

“Families of both have been informed and we are providing consular assistance. The Antiguan police have launched an investigation. They were husband and wife.”

Harold Lovell, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation in Antigua, said the incident happened at around 4.40am local time on Sunday morning.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families of the victims of this incident at this very difficult time,” he said.

"I have full confidence in the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, who are conducting an extensive investigation.

"This isolated incident has deeply shocked our community and we wish to reassure visitors that Antigua and Barbuda is a safe destination."

Local media has reported an increase in shootings on the idyllic island, famed for its 365 beaches, with at least two other people attacked by masked gunmen over the weekend.

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