British pensioner dies after violent mugging in Tenerife holiday resort

Spain

Victim died in hospital after being attacked in Los Cristianos, sparking calls for a murder investigation amid growing concerns over local crime

Gerard Couzens

A British man has died after being mugged in a holiday resort in Tenerife.

The victim had been fighting for his life in hospital following the violent attack in Los Cristianos in the south of the island last Wednesday.

And overnight it emerged the elderly man, who was with his wife when he was targeted, had passed away in hospital.

Flowers have been left for the Brit, identified so far only by his first name Ray, outside the apartment block where the mugging took place as tributes were paid to him online.

A message on one of the bouquets said: “RIP Ray, We Will Miss You.”

A friend, referencing the Big Ben Pub in Los Cristianos, said: “I met that man two weeks ago in Big Ben.

“He was celebrating his birthday with his wife Judy and having a great time. Such a lovely man. Can’t believe this happened. Rest in peace.”

Ray Hugill, from Middlesbrough, wrote online at the weekend: “Regrettably this friend of mine passed away from his injuries in hospital yesterday.

“This should now be treated by the police as a murder inquiry.”

Another pal wrote: “Ray was a lovely man. I hope justice is done.”

A man described as a Senegalese immigrant has reportedly been identified as the suspect following the incident, which happened at the entrance to an apartment block called Victoria Court II in Los Cristianos.

The victim is understood to have gone into cardiac arrest after falling backwards and smashing onto the ground during a brief struggle with his assailant.

He was revived at the scene by emergency medical responders before being rushed to hospital in a very serious condition.

No arrests are yet thought to have taken place, although police are expected to offer an update later after sources said at the weekend they were hopeful of making a detention soon.

Angry expats and regular holidaymakers to Tenerife have been complaining the mugging problem in the area is getting worse and urging the police to do more to tackle the issue.

Stephen Fox wrote on an expat social media site: “Sad state of affairs. Fourth incident that I know of in this exact same area in the last three months.

“The Victoria Court has external cameras. I witnessed a woman in a wheelchair in her 80s getting her chain ripped off her at 3pm. Police and the local council are ignoring it.”

Another Brit responded by saying: “it’s absolutely disgusting. All Ray’s family and friends are devastated by what’s happened.

“There should be a murder enquiry because that’s what it is and this isn’t the first time it’s happened. RIP Ray. Thinking about you Judy and sending hugs.”

In April police in Tenerife arrested a man who on the same day allegedly sexually assaulted a female British tourist and robbed and beat up an OAP couple from the UK.

The 22-year-old Moroccan was accused of using a martial arts ‘lion killer’ chokehold to overpower the woman after pretending to be a Good Samaritan by helping her look for her lost mobile phone.

Police sources said at the time he only desisted from raping her after she promised not to report him.

The same day as the sex attack in the Las Veronicas area in the holiday resort of Playa de las Americas near Los Cristianos, the man allegedly targeted an 89-year-old British man and his 79-year-old wife.

Both elderly tourists were hospitalised after the mugger lashed out at them in anger when the woman OAP threw her husband’s watch into the bushes after it came off during a struggle.

The man arrested was subsequently linked to another incident three days earlier on March 20 when a Swedish tourist was mugged for her necklace.

Despite the violence used on each occasion, well-placed sources later revealed the suspect had incredibly been released on bail after going before a duty judge instead of being remanded to prison pending charges and trial.

In February a Good Samaritan British holidaymaker was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in Las Veronicas as he chased a man who had just stolen a friend’s mobile.

Brave Theo Wright, 18, from Oldham, was outside a club when he intervened in the early hours of February 16.

An Italian in his twenties later handed himself in after Spanish police made him a wanted man.

Speaking from hospital after his ordeal Theo, who was treated for a serious stab wound that punctured his lung, said: “I didn't mean to be a hero or anything, I just wanted to help the girl get her phone back.”

Recalling the moment he was knifed, he added: "He just swung around and that must've been when he stabbed me twice.

“I tried to run again but couldn't and I just fell to the floor.

“That's when two Ukrainian guys helped me with first aid. I saw all the blood and really thought I was brown bread.”

On May 28 a British man died during a fight at popular nightlife spot Las Veronicas.

He is understood to have been kicked in the head after being knocked to the ground in an altercation which involved glasses being thrown.

A 23-year-old man from the UK was arrested following the death of the 37-year-old and remanded to a local jail as part of an ongoing homicide probe.