A British tourist passed away after being attacked with a chair during a fight involving ten locals while vacationing in Cape Verde. Dean Taylor, a 25-year-old man from south-east London, tragically lost his life on January 7 while en route to a nearby hospital following an altercation in the popular tourist area of Santa Maria on Sal Island. Law enforcement officials have apprehended five individuals in connection with the death of the sales employee. According to authorities, the victim was engaged in a dispute with a group of approximately ten Cape Verdean individuals.
During the confrontation, he endured chair strikes along with multiple punches and kicks while on the ground. The attackers swiftly fled the scene after the aggression, as stated by police reports. Alexander Taylor, the victim’s father and a luxury brand manager from London, expressed profound grief over the loss, mentioning how devastated his family, including his wife and daughter, are. Alexander recounted the heart-wrenching moment when he received a call from his brother-in-law in Cape Verde informing him of Dean’s passing, emphasizing the unimaginable anguish he experienced.
The Judicial Police of the country disclosed that five men, ranging from 19 to 35 years old, have been detained in custody following Dean’s demise. The authorities detailed that a clash occurred in the early hours of January 7 between a group of local and international individuals on a pedestrian street near the Calema Pub in Santa Maria, resulting in the death of the 25-year-old British citizen, later confirmed by the Foreign Office.
Alexander shared that Dean had embarked on the trip to Cape Verde with three school friends on December 28, with plans to depart the day after the tragic incident occurred. He highlighted the positive intentions behind their visit to Cape Verde for leisure. The family recounted how the altercation escalated when Dean and his friend intervened to protect a fellow tourist being harassed by an inebriated individual, leading to the involvement of bystanders in the unfolding conflict.
The family faced financial challenges, having to pay 8,500 Euros to repatriate Dean as their travel insurance did not cover such expenses. With Dean’s body still under the coroner’s care, funeral arrangements are pending. Alexander issued a cautionary message to British vacationers considering Cape Verde, advising them to exercise vigilance while visiting the destination. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office assured of providing support to the bereaved family and maintaining communication with the local authorities.