A ‘pickpocket’ faced instant payback after trying to steal a tourist’s wallet on a beach in Tenerife, local media reports, with dramatic footage showing the would-be robbery victim’s vicious retaliation.
Holidaymakers were left stunned as the man launched a relentless attack on the alleged thief, brutally beating him with a stick.
The attacker, who is said to been an English speaker, is seen chasing the topless man down to the shoreline as he stumbles backwards over rocks.
He attempts to stand up several times, only to be knocked to the floor again as the furious man deals a barrage of blows.
The violent scenes unfolded on the Los Abrigos beach on the south coast of the holiday island in front of shocked families, with parents seen herding their children away from the chaos.
Holidaymakers 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 down to the shoreline and into the sea
A picture circulating online shows the alleged thief’s back covered in slashes after the attack
While the alleged robbery was not caught on camera, the immediate aftermath shows the man who was targeted taking the law into his own hands.
He is heard yelling at the other man, who is just wearing swimming trunks, and begins hitting him with full force with the stick.
His victim is seen falling to the floor and rolling backwards over the rocks as he tries to escape.
But the attacker continues without mercy, repeatedly hitting him as he runs after him all the way to the sea.
In a desperate bid to avoid the blows, the man goes several metres out into the water.
The assailant is undeterred and wades out, even though he is fully clothed.
He continues to batter him, even hitting him on the head, inflicting severe injuries on the pickpocket.
Children are seen paddling in the sea when the attack begins, before being dragged away by their parents who had been trying to enjoy a day at the beach.
Parents are seen dragging their children away as the violent fight unfolds in front of them
The weapon used by the man appeared to be the pole of a parasol, according to Canarian Weekly.
Eyewitnesses confirmed the attack was sparked by the victim’s attempt to steal the attacker’s wallet, the news outlet reports.
The video went viral online, and a Facebook group has shared images of the victim’s injuries.
Slashes are seen on the man’s back where he has been hit, and it appears he was assisted by lifeguards, who are heard whistling at the end of the video.