- The violent scenes that occurred on the beach of Los Abrigos, to the shock of the families
- Do you know the man? Did you witness the incident? Email elena.salvoni@mailonline.co.uk
A brutal beating caught on camera by horrified tourists on a beach in Tenerife affected two men who live in local caves and “have problems living together”, police have revealed.
A dramatic video shows how the attacker, said to be a Dutch man in his 30s, He chased the topless man to the shore, and the victim was seen stumbling backwards on the rocks as he tried to defend himself.
The attacker reportedly used an aluminium stick to beat the man, believed to be a 48-year-old Austrian, who suffered cuts to his back caused by the sharp edges of the instrument.
“If he had picked up an iron bar or a wooden stick, they would have killed him,” a witness told Spanish media, with images showing the cuts the man suffered.
The violent scenes occurred on Los Abrigos beach on the southern coast of the tourist island, in front of shocked families, while parents were seen leading their children away from the chaos.
Tourists were left stunned as the man launched a relentless attack on the alleged thief, brutally beating him with a stick.
Video footage shows the attacker chasing the topless man to the shore and into the sea.
An image circulating online shows the victim’s back covered in cuts after the attack.
The victim, who was wearing only a swimsuit at the time, was lying in the sun and had no idea what was going to happen when the attack began, according to the Spanish news site. The debate.
Police intervened and arrested the perpetrator, who reportedly claimed he was taking the law into his own hands.
Initial reports indicated that the incident was caused by an alleged pickpocket who tried to steal a tourist’s wallet.
But a well-informed police source said: “The two people involved have no fixed address, live in caves and have problems living together.”
Another source close to the investigation added: “Neither the man, nor the victim of the beating, nor the attacker are tourists.
“One is from Austria and the other from the Netherlands. They have no fixed place of residence and live in caves.”
Police have not yet officially confirmed the nationality of the detainee, but he is believed to be a Dutch citizen and not an Austrian.
While the footage circulating online does not show what happened before the attacker attacked the other man, he can be heard shouting angrily before hitting him with full force with the stick.
His victim is seen falling to the ground and rolling backwards over the rocks as he tries to escape.
But the attacker continues mercilessly, hitting him repeatedly while running after him to the sea.
Parents are seen dragging their children as a violent fight takes place in front of them.
In a desperate attempt to avoid being hit, the man wades several metres into the water.
The attacker is not intimidated and enters the water, even though he is fully clothed.
He continues to beat him, even hitting him in the head, probably causing serious injuries.
Children are seen splashing in the sea as the attack begins, before being dragged away by their parents who were trying to enjoy a day at the beach.
The video went viral online and a Facebook group shared images of the victim’s injuries..
Cuts are visible on the man’s back where he was hit, and he appears to have been assisted by rescuers, who can be heard whistling at the end of the video.
Witnesses confirmed that the attack was triggered by the victim’s attempt to steal the attacker’s wallet, Canarian Weekly reports, however the exact cause of the attack remains unclear.
The suspect was reportedly handcuffed and taken to court, where he will undergo a psychiatric evaluation by the court’s medical examiner.
