- The violent scenes that unfolded on the beach of Los Abrigos, in front of shocked families
- Do you know the man? Did you witness the incident? Email [email protected]
A brutal assault caught on camera by shocked holidaymakers on a Tenerife beach involved two men who live in local caves and have “problems living together”, police have revealed.
Dramatic video shows the attacker, reportedly a Dutch man in his thirties, chased the topless man to the shore, with the victim stumbling backwards over rocks as he tried to defend himself.
According to reports, the attacker used an aluminum stick to hit the man, a 48-year-old Austrian, who suffered cuts on his back from the sharp edges of the weapon.
“If he had taken an iron bar or a wooden stick, he would have been killed,” a witness told Spanish media, who also showed photos of the cuts the man sustained.
The violent scenes unfolded on Los Abrigos beach on the southern coast of the holiday island, in front of shocked families, as parents were seen keeping their children away from the chaos.
Holidaymakers were stunned as the man launched a brutal attack on the alleged thief, brutally beating him with a stick
Video footage shows the attacker chasing the topless man towards the shoreline and into the sea
In a photo circulating online, the victim’s back is covered in cuts after the attack
The victim, who was wearing only swimming trunks at the time, was sunbathing and was completely unaware of what was about to happen when the attack was launched on him, the Spanish news site reported The Debate.
Police intervened and arrested the perpetrator, who claimed he was taking the law into his own hands.
According to initial reports, the incident was caused by a pickpocket who wanted to steal a tourist’s wallet.
But a well-informed police source said: ‘The two people involved have no fixed abode, live in caves and have problems living together.’
Another insider closely involved in the investigation added: ‘Neither the victim nor the aggressor is a tourist.
‘One comes from Austria and the other from the Netherlands. They have no fixed abode and live in caves.’
The police have not yet officially confirmed the nationality of the detainee, but it is likely that he is Dutch and not the Austrian man.
Although footage circulating online does not show what happened before the attacker attacked the other man, he can be heard angrily shouting at him before hitting him with full force with the stick.
We see his victim fall to the ground and roll backwards over the rocks as he tries to escape.
But the attacker continues mercilessly, hitting him repeatedly as he chases him to the sea.
Parents drag their children away as the violent fight unfolds before their eyes
In a desperate attempt to avoid the blows, the man dives several meters into the water.
The attacker is not deterred and wades outside, even though he is fully clothed.
He keeps hitting him, even on his head, probably seriously injuring him.
At the moment the attack begins, children can be seen paddling in the sea, only to be dragged away by their parents, who were just enjoying a day at the beach.
The video went viral online and a Facebook group shared images of the victim’s injuries.
Cuts can be seen on the man’s back, and it appears he received help from lifeguards, who whistle at the end of the video.
Witnesses confirmed that the attack was provoked by the victim’s attempt to steal the attacker’s wallet, Canarian Weekly reports. However, the exact cause of the attack is unclear.
The man responsible was handcuffed and taken to court, reports said, and was to undergo psychiatric evaluation by the court’s forensic physician.