A 33-year-old father-to-be from Surrey and his wife were killed in the boat disaster off the coast of Bahrain.

Scott Belch and his German wife Sandy, of Redhill, just south of London, were among 58 people who died after an overcrowded pleasure boat capsized in the Gulf off the coast of Bahrain last Thursday.

The couple had recently married after meeting in America while Scott was on a motorcycle tour. They got engaged last July, shortly before Scott, a civil engineer, moved to Bahrain to work on the World Trade Centre project.

Scott had lived in Redhill most of his life, attending St Bede's School before working for Epsom-based engineering company, Atkins.

His parents, Jeffrey and Sandra Belch, described their son as a "big, loveable bear" and said: "It's just awful, too devastating for words. We're in shock."

Scott and his wife, who was three months pregnant, were among 150 passengers celebrating the completion of part of the Bahrain World Trade Centre towers on the two-deck boat.

His father said: "They loved working and living in Bahrain, they had so much to live for.

"Civil engineering was always what he wanted to do. He was a big guy, kind, thoughtful, generous. He was so looking forward to being a dad."

Scott's parents and his sister Vicky flew out to Bahrain on Sunday.

A neighbour, who has known the family for 40 years, said: "My daughter used to babysit Scott as a child. We are all shocked that this has happened to such a wonderful, caring man.

"He was newly married and Sandy was just three months pregnant. They were looking forward to a long and happy life together."

Scott had been a great lover of motorcycles and completed a tour across the French Alps in 2003.

Friend Bill Roughton who rode with him said: "The news that Scott was on the boat was a shock. He'll be missed by all of us. I was struck by Scott's easy-going and pleasant nature. He got on with people, everyone liked him."

Another friend said Scott's family had been "devastated" by the news.

"Scott's parents were so excited at the thought of becoming grandparents," he said. "It was all they could talk about. Now they have lost a son, a daughter-in-law and a baby in the most traumatic of circumstances."

Six Atkins staff and three of their relatives died in the disaster, including Mr Belch and his wife.

Chief executive officer Keith Clarke, who is in Bahrain supporting the families and loved ones of those who died, said: "We are still trying to come to terms with what has happened.

"We are doing all we can to ensure the bereaved receive as much support as possible and this will continue indefinitely."