UK Edition
British man shot in the head during raid on his parents' restaurant in Antigua
A British man is fighting for his life after being shot in the head during an attempted robbery at his parents' restaurant in Antigua.
Christopher Tester was critically injured in a struggle with a masked and hooded gunman, who tried to rob the beachside business on Christmas Day.
The 37-year-old, from Torquay, in Devon, who was on a three-week holiday to the Caribbean island, is in an induced coma in hospital.
Friends have launched an appeal to raise £90,000 to fly Mr Tester, who works for luxury boat firm Birchell Marine, back to Britain for treatment. The online drive had generated around third of its target - more than £30,000 - by Tuesday afternoon.
His parents, Tony and Gill Tester, who run The Boxer Shack, are described as well-loved members of the island's expatriate community.
On a trip to Antigua last December, Mr Tester posted a picture of himself on Facebook holding a fish he had caught while wearing a T-shirt bearing the logo of his parents' restaurant.
The caption read: "First fish of the holiday. Since he was barely a fish fingers' worth, he was returned safely."
Friends said the couple were held up at gunpoint when their business, in the Saint Mary's area of the island, was targeted at 10.30pm on Christmas Day.
However, friends fear that the hospital where he is being treated does not have "the facilities or expertise he needs" and are seeking his "evacuation" home.
"Time is of the essence," Charlotte Williams, a friend of Mr Tester told the Torquay Herald Express. "Please, please can you help us to raise funds for him.
"They need to raise £90,000. It will save his life. Please help us perform a Christmas miracle."
Miss Williams, who set up the Crowdfunder appeal, said on the website: "Dear friends. Tony and Gill Tester from Boxer Shack were held up at gunpoint last night.
"During the attack, their son Chris was shot in the head and critically injured.
"He is now in Mount St John's Hospital in Antigua but they do not have the facilities or expertise he needs.
"We need to arrange immediate evacuation by air ambulance to the UK and need your help to fund this. Please, please give anything you can, any amount will help."
On its Facebook page, ABS Television in Antigua posted a police statement that said the masked gunman shot Mr Tester in a struggle.
It read: "Thirty-seven-year-old Christopher Tester of the United Kingdom is currently at the Mount St John's Medical Center in critical condition after receiving a gunshot wound to his head during an attempted robbery at Old Road.
"It is alleged that a man approximately 5ft 8 inches in height, slim built, wearing a black hoodie and mask, attempted to rob his family, when a struggle ensued.
"During the struggle, he was shot in his head and was transported by the EMS to the hospital. The incident occurred around 10.30pm on Sunday.
"He arrived on the island on Dec 10 and was due to leave on Dec 29. Investigations are currently ongoing into the matter."
