Canadians Brutally Beaten While On Vacation In Barbados

[Gambitt]

Canadians Brutally Beaten While On Vacation In Barbados
Wednesday March 4, 2009
CityNews.ca Staff

A winter break in Barbados took a tragic turn this weekend when two Ontario women were brutally attacked on the southern part of the island.

A 60-year-old Ottawa woman, Terry Schwarzfeld, and her daughter-in-law Luana Cotsman, from Guelph, were walking along an isolated stretch of the beach on Saturday night when they were accosted by a mugger.

There are reports when the vacationers told the man they didn't have anything they could give him, he attacked them with a piece of wood, repeatedly hitting Schwarzfeld on the head.

Although both women were knocked unconscious, Schwartzfeld took the brunt of the beating and wound up in hospital with swelling in her brain.

Local police are investigating.

Despite the incident, officials say travelling to the Caribbean is still relatively safe for tourists, and recommend keeping to the secure resort areas.

[mojitomiss_cuba]

gambitt, I almost had heart failure for a minute while reading this.

My mom is currently in Barbados. She doesn't stay in resorts, they rent a house (6 weeks this year).
She loves this island though and is a pretty savvy woman. But things can happen anywhere, anytime.

This is the first I've heard of this story and Barbados is one of those islands that you don't really hear about a lot of on-tourist violence.
Sounds like they were near to (but obviously far enough away from) the "Gap" area of barbados. The GAP is "the place" to be but there would be lots of people around, even late at night, especially on a Saturday night. I wouldn't personally be walking along an isolated stretch of beach late at night, but that's just me.

It's a tragic story though and I really hope that the one woman will be ok.

[Gambitt]

Bad News 

March 18, 2009 at 7:08 PM EDT

OTTAWA —   Sixty-year-old Terry Schwarzfeld was badly beaten during a mugging on a Barbados beach on Feb. 28, suffering serious brain injuries.

She died Wednesday morning at Ottawa Civic Hospital.

[Bulldog]

Very Sad indeed 

[kharmar77]

omg, I didnt realize she had died..
I am just feeling so bad about Natasha Richardson, head injury as well, though vastly different  causes..
You just never know...
two ppl on a stroll on the beach... someone learning how to ski.. wow...

[mojitomiss_cuba]

The article stated that the women were walking the beach at night
My mom was actually in Barbados when this happened and she told me it wasn't night, it was around 4:30 in the afternoon! Middle of the bloody day

This is a very rare incident for Barbados, but still so very, very sad.
The poor family

[Bulldog]

Arrest made in Barbados following death of Ottawa woman

Mar 23, 2009 05:40 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – Police in Barbados have reportedly made an arrest in the mugging and assault of two Canadian women last month that led to the death of one of the victims.

Sixty-year-old Terry Schwarzfeld of Ottawa died in a city hospital last week from injuries she sustained in the Feb. 28 attack.

She and her daughter-in-law Luana Cotsman were walking along a secluded beach when they were robbed and beaten by a man wielding a piece of wood.

Reports say police in Barbados arrested a 24-year-old man on the weekend, and he was allegedly found with items that belonged to the two women as well as a fake firearm.

A Barbadian investigator plans to travel to Canada to complete the investigation.

Police in Barbados had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/607001