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Lone British birdwatcher violently attacked near Tavira

santaluziaA seventy year old British man has been beaten and robbed in an assault that has shocked the quiet Ria Formasa town of Santa Luzia near Tavira.

The attack happened near the football ground and the victim was left in a serious condition.

Able to stagger for help despite severe head injuries, the man was helped by nearby caravanners who called emergency services for help.

The Biritsh man was able to tell police that he had been attacked by two men who had robbed and beaten him and stolen his carkeys.

The victim explained that he was a resident in Spain and frequently visited the Tavira area, especially the Ria Formosa as he was a keen birdwatcher.

The ambulance service took him to Faro hospital where he was said to be in a serious condition with a fractured skull was to be operated on last night.

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Comments  

-5 #4 Peter Booker 2015-02-01 08:10
I take Elsa´s point. It is not every birdwatcher who chooses Stª Luzia at midday (which I think it was) to focus on birds. It is so very busy and public.

The victim refers to himself as a birdwatcher, but are we sure that he was focussing on birds at the time?
-1 #3 Colin Key 2015-01-30 18:08
As a birdwatcher, often out alone with optical and camera eqipment worth thousnds of euros, I find this recent incident very disturbing. In days gone by it was usually either light-fingered gypsies or 'druggies' who were involved in petty crime. Now we have Eastern Europeans who are more organised and prepared to use brutal physical assaults in order to steal what they want. :sigh:
-5 #2 Elsa 2015-01-30 09:32
A sad event. That clearly illustrates that peering through binoculars, whether birdwatching, plane or train spotting or whatever is perfectly understandable in the developed northern EU.

It also reminds us that over flying or stop over large raptors will soon be pointlessly shot in Malta in the next two months. Never able to complete their return flight north.

But peering through binoculars is far less acceptable in the undeveloped southern EU. The older citizens having grown up within very closed police states. Being accustomed to lie about their movements and activities to anyone in authority. As many still do - and misleadingly then advise us EU foreigners to do.

It is also possible that the attackers were doing something illicit in the bushes. Badger watching as that ex-Welsh Secretary said he was doing.

And only 10 years ago British plane spotters were being arrested in fellow EU member (for now) Greece ! For spying !

Remember how incredulous we British non plane spotters were ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/12/newsid_2518000/2518385.stm
+10 #1 Clive Viney 2015-01-30 05:31
This is shocking. I have been birdwatching in the Tavira area for 35 years and have never once felt threatened. I have only ever encountered friendliness and interest. To have happened in such a public place is incredible. It is good that the caravaners helped. I wish him a speedy recovery.

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