Horror as British pensioner,88, dies after he's violently mugged in Tenerife
Horror as British pensioner, 88, dies after he's violently mugged in Tenerife
A man described as a Senegalese immigrant with previous for similar crimes has reportedly been identified as the suspect following the incident.
Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied
Add us as preferred source By Gerard Couzens, Laura Zilincanova 13:48, Mon, Jun 22, 2026 Updated: 13:57, Mon, Jun 22, 2026 
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 that 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 man described as a Senegalese immigrant with a previous record for similar crimes 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.
Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
- New detail emerges in case of boy, 3, ‘thrown’ into crocodile enclosure at UK zoo
- Met Office urges homes in 71 areas to gather torches and batteries from Monday
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 over the weekend they were hopeful of making an arrest soon.
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."
Angry expats and regular holidaymakers to Tenerife have been complaining that 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, an 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, in fact, 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 the 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 the 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.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
