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A British man has been killed in what appears to have been an attempted car-jacking in Brazil.

Peter Campsie was shot dead by two gunmen while returning home from a business meeting in Niteroi, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Campsie, 48, an oil worker, had lived in the city of Macaé, 180km north east of Rio, for 16 years with his wife and 10-year-old daughter.

Campsie was shot when gunmen tried to hijack his Lexus , while he was driving back from a meeting with his employers Diamond Offshore Drilling international, where he worked as operations manager. He died at the scene. The gunmen are thought to have escaped empty-handed.

In a statement Campsie's family, from Montrose, Scotland, told local newspaper the Press & Journal: "He was a man who loved life and brought so much joy and laughter to those around him.

"Wherever Pete went, the good times followed. A darkness has fallen on us all as we try and make sense of why Pete had to die in the prime of his life.

"He was a loyal friend and father, brother and son who cared deeply about making sure everyone got the best out of their lives. Our anchor has been pulled away so cruelly."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We were made aware of the death of a British national in Brazil on 2 April.

"We stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."