A BRITISH man has died from his injuries three months after a brutal “unprovoked” attack during a night out in Spain.
Retired carpenter Marshall Latham, 68, was left fighting for his life after being sucker punched in a street on the Canary island of Fuerteventuran in December.
SolarpixMarshall Latham, 68, tragically passed away[/caption]
Marshall was punched by a man he didn’t know on the way back from having a drink with friendsSolarpix
SolarpixMarsh spent months at this hospital in Gran Canaria before being transferred back to the UK[/caption]
Marshall, “Marsh” to his pals, sustained a serious brain injury after smacking his head on the concrete floor.
He transferred to a hospital in Gran Canaria for emergency surgery – including the removal of a chunk of his skull to release pressure.
After a fundraising appeal by his family, Marsh was eventually transferred to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool on March 1, but tragically died there on March 16.
An inquest was opened into Marsh’s death at Warrington Coroner’s Court last Wednesday but has been suspended until August as Spanish police consider any criminal charges.
A 32-year-old man was reportedly arrested in connection with the attack and released on bail in February.
The deadly attack happened when after Marshall, from Nantwhich, Cheshire, had been out drinking with friends in the resort of Caleta de Fuste, on the east side of the island.
As he was walking home, he was “punched out of the blue by someone he didn’t know”, according to the GoFundMe appeal set up in his name.
Other witness reports also say that the attack was unprovoked and there was no prior altercation between the two.
Marshall was knocked off his feet by the strike and smacked his head on the hard concrete floor – knocking him unconscious.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Marshall was whisked to hospital in Puerto del Rosario, where he was sedated, before being transferred to a larger facility in Gran Canaria.
There, he had a 14cm chunk of his skull removed, a tracheotomy, a drain on his brain to help ease pressure, and suffered pneumonia twice and meningitis.
Loved ones were been told “not once, but twice” that they need to say goodbye to him – but then hope emerged he would survive.
A man was arrested while boarding a flight to Glasgow in the aftermath of the attack and then released on bail.
A spokesman from Spain’s police said in February: “A 32-year-old man whose initials are TD was held at Fuerteventura Airport after being identified from CCTV.
“He was handed over to the courts following his arrest.”
SolarpixMarshall’s family and friends previously vowed to pursue justice[/caption]
SolarpixThe deadly assault happened in the resort of Caleta de Fuste on the Spanish island of Fuerteventuran[/caption]
A court official for the area said in February: “He appeared before a judge at Court of Investigation Number Four in Puerto del Rosario.
“He is being investigated on suspicion of a crime of wounding.
“He was released on bail. An investigation is ongoing. The court is awaiting a forensic review and the taking of witness statements.”
The nationality of the man was never confirmed.
Marsh’s brother-in-law told The Nantwich News in February that Marsh used to visit the island “three to four times a year” with his partner.
He said: “Lynn had gone back to their apartment, and Marsh stayed for another drink and was walking home when something has happened.
“He was hit by this guy, somewhere near a taxi rank, and he has gone down and hit his head on the concrete floor.”
He continued: “We are also told this man had been thrown out of a bar on the same night before the attack.”
Councillors from Marsh’s hometown called for justice to be served whilst he was still fighting for his life.
Allen Gage, a councillor for Crewe and Natwich, said in a social media post: “We need justice. A much cherished friend of mine, a gentleman that would give you the shirt from his back was sadly attacked and put in a coma while in Spain just before Christmas.
“He literally crossed the road to help someone out – no surprise there.”
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