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By Simon Jones
Published Dec 22, 2014 at 9:45 am (Updated Dec 23, 2014 at 10:18 am)

Michael Douglas will narrate the upcoming Ocean Vet series

The announcement that Michael Douglas will narrate the upcoming Ocean Vet series is a fitting tribute to the man behind the nature documentary.

Dr Neil Burnie, together with friend Choy Aming, have been the driving force behind the series that showcases Bermuda’s unique marine life.

But the sudden and tragic death of Dr Burnie last month left producers, gassProductions, with a dilemma over who was to narrate the series. Mr Aming told The Royal Gazette that Dr Burnie would be “thrilled and proud” to know that the Hollywood star would be providing the voice over to the series.

“Neil would be ecstatic to know that Michael Douglas was narrating the Ocean Vet,” said Mr Aming.

“This was his dream and we had initially filmed it with the idea of him providing the first-person narration.

“What we have done following his death would be have blown him away and made him very proud.

“Neil was so excited about seeing this programme come out.

“The only nagging thing in my mind is that Neil won’t be here to see it.

It is going to be pretty crushing to watch it without him, but I hope he is looking down on us and can see what we have tried to do.”

Mr Aming said the news that Mr Douglas would narrate the upcoming series was a “huge boost” to the programme.

“It’s been a real rollercoaster,” he said. “When we finished filming we were on such a high at what had been achieved.

“Then Neil’s death took us to the lowest of the low spots.

‘The news that Michael Douglas has agreed to narrate it is a huge boost and takes us back up to where we were after filming.

“There’s also a huge sense of relief that all the hard work that everyone has put in will get out there.”

GassProductions announced yesterday morning, through Facebook, that the Hollywood star had agreed to narrate the series on behalf of Dr Burnie, who died after a diving accident off Horseshoe Bay last month.

Andrew Smith, of gassProductions, said: “It’s been a very busy few months in the UK, we have been hard at work to ensure Ocean Vet continues and becomes stronger. The delivery to networks is now pushed back to December 2015.

“We still have a considerable amount of work ahead to get the series into its slightly altered format. Everything is now scheduled and work is underway.

“In consideration of the changes we have revised some elements in the original trailer to include new footage and express a more ‘team’ feel to the series. Something necessary as Neil didn’t finish the narration and some underwater pieces to camera.

“We will be back in Bermuda in June to reshoot some parts of the series.

“Finally we would also like to reveal that Michael Douglas (right) has agreed to work with gassProductions and Ocean Vet to narrate the series on behalf of Neil, something we are immensely proud of.

“We would like to say a huge thanks to all our followers for the hundreds of comments and continued support.”

Dr Burnie, far right, a noted veterinarian and fisherman who was well known for his research on marine species, died on November 11 after running into difficulties while diving at Horseshoe Bay Beach. He was 60 years old.