Theo Wright, 18, was brutally stabbed on holiday in Tenerife – his worried mum has rushed to his bedside as his family raise funds to enable her to stay with Theo until he can fly home
A British teenager was left fighting for his life after he was brutally stabbed while chasing a mugger in Tenerife on his first lads’ holiday.
In the early hours of Tuesday, February 17 Theo Wright, 18, sprinted after a thief who had grabbed a friend’s mobile phone, but he was brutally stabbed in the neck and lung as he attempted to retrieve the phone. Two quick-thinking holidaymakers gave Theo first aid while they waitied for paramedics to arrive.
The knife attack happened in Playa de las Americas- a hugely popular area of the Island with British holidaymakers. The resort in southern Tenerife was established in the 1960s and renowned for its vibrant nightlife, year-round sunshine, and bustling, golden-sand beaches.
Hero dad dies saving girl, 12, from train horror as devastated family speak out
Hospital restricts visitors immediately after ‘outbreak’ on wards
Theo, from Royton near Oldham, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but thankfully he is now expected to make a full recovery. However, he has been told he will be unable to fly home for at least two weeks.
His 56-year-old mum, Caroline, rushed to his bedside as soon as she heard Theo was in hospital. Their loved ones have been nothing but supportive and to help with her expenses while she remains in Tenerife they have set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £9,000.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail from his hospital bed, he said: ‘I really thought it was game over. I thought I was going to die because of the amount of blood on the floor.’ It was only when I saw that, it dawned on me I’d been stabbed twice – in the neck and in the lung. It could have been really bad, but I’m alive and that’s the main thing.
He added: “I tried to run again but couldn’t, and I just fell to the floor… I didn’t mean to be a hero or anything, I just wanted to help her get her phone back.” Theo said he has no regrets about how he handled the situation and said ” I would do it again.”
Caroline told the news outlet: “This was his first lads’ holiday and I’d spent the whole five days worrying. We got to the last day and I thought, “That’s gone OK.” Then I got the phone call every parent dreads.”
Theo remains in hospital, with his mum by his side, until he is given the green-light by doctors to fly home to England.
A spokesman for a regional government emergency response centre said: ‘An 18-year-old man has been seriously injured after being stabbed in Rafael Puig Lluvina Avenue in Playa de las Americas.
‘The victim was transferred to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur after being stabilised at the scene.’
Police continue to attempt to identify and detain the knifeman but no arrests have yet been made.
You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.
