Pensioner dies tackling raider

A pensioner who tackled a raider in his Spanish villa died after suffering serious head injuries.

Joseph McCaughran, 69, clung on to the getaway car as it sped away from the house in Torrevieja, 25 miles south of Alicante.

He confronted the thief after he burst in while Mr McCaughran and his wife Sheila were sunbathing in the garden.

The funeral of Mr McCaughran, a retired BT technical officer, takes place on Thursday in his home village of Wilpshire, Lancashire.

It is such a tragic loss of life from such a terrible incident

Sheila McCaughran, victim's wife

Mrs McCaughran, 46, said: "I am absolutely dazed by what has happened.

"It is such a tragic loss of life from such a terrible incident.

"It is the last thing you imagine happening in a place like that."

The couple had travelled to the holiday home with their daughter Kerry, her fiancé Stephen and their four-month-old son Jack.

Chased raider

The thief had sneaked into the villa through an upstairs balcony and was about to escape with a camcorder containing footage of the couple's grandson, together with mobile phones and jewellery.

Mr McCaughran chased the raider out into the road where a car was waiting to drive off.

Mrs McCaughran said: "Joe almost caught up with him and held on to the door handle.

"His shoulder was badly cut and there was quite a lot of blood on his head."

Mr McCaughran was taken to hospital for a brain scan and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot and reduce swelling.

He remained in intensive care until his death on 28 June.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into his death.