Fireman shot dead as robbers storm paradise island hotel

Shot dead: Thomas Ossel, left, with his younger brother Jack who survived the attack

A London firefighter has been shot dead and his brother injured during a terrifying robbery at their Caribbean island hotel.

Tom Ossel, 28, was killed by an armed gang who burst into the guest house where he was staying with 21-year-old Jack on the popular Venezuelan holiday island of Margarita.

Liverpool fan Tom, a keen traveller originally from Bedfordshire, bled to death after being shot in the armpit at the remote hotel near Playa el Aqua at about 11pm on Monday.

His brother, a student who also lives in London, was released from hospital after treatment for stab wounds.

Last night Jack was with the local British consul Barry Dutton as he waited for his father Ben to fly out to the island.

The brothers' mother Annabel was "too traumatised" to speak about what happened.
Close family friend Jacqueline Baxter told the Standard: "Jack is bearing up but everything he had was stolen so he is having to wait until his father gets out there.

"Mrs Ossel is traumatised and cannot speak about what has happened. It is devastating for the family, a huge shock."

Local police chief Luis Garavin confirmed that the tourists were the victims of a robbery.

He said: "The criminals attacked the guest house to commit robbery and panicked when the British tourists put up resistance. It was at that point the shots were fired."

Hotel owner Peter Eggersdorfer told how he unwittingly allowed the robbers into the building.

He said: "Four men rang on the bell saying they wanted a room and asking if they could see it. I let them in and left the door open.

"Next minute one of them pistol-whipped me over the head and three women including one armed with a knife rushed in behind them.

"I was bundled into the kitchen and held hostage along with a couple of guests who were doing some cooking. They started going through the rooms looking to take things and came across the two
British brothers who put up resistance.

"All I could hear was the robbers shouting in Spanish 'dollars, dollars' and the sound of punching and slapping as they put up resistance. Five shots were fired. Four went into the wall and one killed the British holidaymaker.

"It all happened so quickly. The robbers raced out as soon as the shots were fired."

He added: "I've identified two of the attackers from photos the police have shown me. One is apparently a Colombian man who is extremely dangerous and has already committed several murders."

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "We were shocked and saddened to learn of Tom's untimely death. I know he will be sorely missed by his fellow firefighters. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad and difficult time."

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