Tributes for cricketer Adrian St John after he is shot dead in Trinidad

A promising young British cricketer has been shot dead in an apparent armed robbery in the Caribbean.

Adrian St John, 22, described by his coach and mentor as a "lovely person", died in Trinidad on Sunday night.

He was targeted by two gunmen when he stopped the car he was driving to pick someone up around 8.30pm in San Juan, local media said.

The Trinidad & Tobago Guardian Online reported that police said the men ordered him to drive off after robbing him, and as he was doing so, one of the gunmen on the roadside fired, hitting the aspiring cricketer in the head.

It is believed the men stole mobile phones and cash.

Local media said Mr St John, who is believed to have had plans to play one day for the West Indies, was taken to the nearby Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he died shortly after.

West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle tweeted: "Such sad news to hear. My condolences to his family & friends. Adrian St John was the captain of the academy. #Sigh".

Donovan Miller, a coach and mentor to Mr St John, who he said studied at the University of Hertfordshire, told the Press Association: "I'm still in shock."

He added: "I'm really finding it hard to come to terms with it, how someone could do something like that to such a lovely person."

Mr Miller said Mr St John was one of the first members of the Chris Gayle Academy in London, a programme for keen cricketers which also aims to develop life skills.

"He wanted me to support him to go to the Caribbean and to kind of push hard with his cricket. He's just finished his degree at university which we kind of supported him through as well," he said.

Mr Miller said he received a phone call from one of the Academy members on Monday who broke the news to him, adding that he also spoke to a "close family friend".

He said one of the first people he rang was Gayle, who he said knew Mr St John "quite well".

Mr Miller said he understood, from news reports, that it was a robbery involving two gunmen who took his phone and cash.

A 24-year-old suspect was held for the murder, the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian Online reported.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with authorities following the death of a British national in Trinidad and are ready to provide consular assistance."

Mr St John's cousin, Leandra Alexander, said Mr St John came to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival and enjoyed his visit so much he wanted to stay in the country.

She told the news outlet: "Adrian was very cool and jolly. He was a darling. He was never rude, never disrespectful, he was just a cool and quiet child."