FOR the past five years, Gold Coast couple Magnus and Sheree Johansson endured living a world apart so they could build a future together.
On Sunday, they were separated forever when Mr Johansson, 50, was killed in the terrorist siege in Saudi Arabia.
He was due to return home to the Gold Coast at the end of the month to celebrate his wife's birthday.
The talented Swedish-born chef was among 22 people killed when al-Qaeda terrorists took over the Oasis residential resort compound in the eastern oil city of Khobar.
Helicopter-borne Saudi commandos stormed the complex to end the 24-hour siege but a number of hostages – including Mr Johansson – were shot or had their throats slit by the terrorists.
At least three of the four terrorists were on the run last night.
"It's senseless bloody crap – Sheree is devastated," Mr Johansson's brother-in-law Paul Talbert told The Daily Telegraph last night.
Mr Johansson migrated to Australia from Sweden in 1987 and worked as a chef at one of the Gold Coast's top international hotels, the ANA in Surfers Paradise.
He met Sheree there and they married in 1991, later travelling to Vietnam where Mr Johansson worked as an executive chef at another big hotel.
After returning to Australia in 1998, he landed a lucrative job cooking at the Oasis Resort.
"Sheree and Magnus had bought a home at Ashmore [on the Gold Coast] and they wanted to secure their future," Mr Talbert said.
"Magnus was aware of the risks of working in Saudi Arabia and did not want to expose Sheree to those risks. It was very hard for them but Magnus decided to go over on his own. He came back twice a year for four weeks to visit her.
"He was meant to be coming home on June 27 for his next visit and to celebrate Sheree's birthday," Mr Talbert said.
He said the family was unsure of the details of Mr Johansson's death but had been told by Australian officials that he was shot – either by the terrorists or in the chaos of the commando raid.
"We've been told he was conveyed to hospital still alive but died shortly after," Mr Talbert said.
Mr Johansson's body was likely to be returned to Sweden for burial.
"Magnus's father died recently and now his mother has lost her son," Mr Talbert said.
"She is elderly, so Sheree's thinking at the moment is that the funeral will be held in Sweden."
Mr Talbert said the fact that the Johanssons did not have children was a mixed blessing.
"At least more children haven't lost their father but it doesn't make it any easier for Sheree," he said.
"But we also know there are many other victims' families who are suffering and our thoughts are with them too."
Mr Talbert described his brother-in-law as a "lovely bloke and a great cook".
