Appeal to bring shooting victim home gathers pace
The family and friends of a Devon man shot in the head during a robbery on the island of Antigua on Christmas Day have raised nearly £70,000 to try to get him home. His friends at a pub near Newton Abbot raised thousands in just 24 hours.
Chris Tester, who's from Torquay, was a familiar face behind the bar of the Two Mile Oak pub. Now his face adorns a collection tin on it, emptied yesterday of nearly £6,000.
The landlady, Debbie Beechey, says the response shows how popular he was.
Chris was at his parents' restaurant in Antigua on Christmas Day when he was shot in the head. It's understood that he was trying to protect his mother from the intruder when he was injured.
Miraculously he is still clinging to life. He is now in hospital on the French island of Guadeloupe and he is due to have surgery today on his left eye. It is understood the surgery is scheduled to help prevent any infection.
Kylie Pentelow spoke to Charlotte Williams in Antigua - Charlotte is a family friend. She told us how they all feared for Chris' life.
A crowdfunding page has been opened to try to raise the £90,000 needed to airlift Chris Tester back to the UK.