A British pensioner has tragically died after he was pushed to the ground by intruders who broke into his Spanish home.
The 81-year-old was taken to hospital after being assaulted by burglars in Estepa near Seville around 7pm on Sunday evening.
He was checked over by medics and discharged, but later suffered complications and was rushed back to the nearby Merced Hospital in Osuna but died in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Police have confirmed the victim was a British expat.
Detectives are still hunting those responsible.
The dead man has only been identified so far by his initials – AHB.
The 81-year-old was rushed to hospital after being assaulted by burglars in Estepa near Seville around 7pm on Sunday evening (Seville pictured)
A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Seville, which is investigating the incident, confirmed: ‘A British man aged 81 has died following a break-in at his home in Estepa near Seville.
‘Officers responded to the incident around 7pm on Sunday and took the victim to hospital.
‘He died in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
‘No arrests have yet been made and we are still investigating.’
A police source added: ‘The victim told officers he had been pushed by one of the intruders as he tried to resist the break-in.
‘He fell to the ground and was taken to hospital and tragically died some days later.
‘He didn’t make a formal statement to police before he died and officers are working on the basis of what he told police at the scene before his admission to hospital.
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‘Officers are still investigating what if anything was taken and that has been complicated by the fact there is no formal statement and the victim was not able to give a detailed account of the incident to detectives before he was hospitalised.’
It is understood the victim was told he could go home hours after the break-in, and died after being readmitted to La Merced Hospital in Osuna.
Hospital chiefs have not yet made any comment.
Local reports say police are hunting three suspects, although detectives were not able to confirm the number today.
A town hall source: ‘Local police went to the property on Sunday evening at the request of the Civil Guard following an emergency call.
‘They spoke to the British pensioner at the scene who told them several individuals had entered his property with the intention of robbing him.
‘He had an injury to his face but nothing to suggest he had been beaten up as the initial reports about this incident suggested.
‘He was taken to hospital and went home a few hours later after being treated.
‘Around 24 hours later local police were asked to go to the same property and found emergency medical responders assisting the same man.
‘He was taken to hospital and died in the early hours of Wednesday morning.’
The autopsy is believed to have taken place already but the results have not been made pubic, as is normal in Spain.
Estepa is a town and municipality in the extreme south-east of the province of Seville.
It is located north of the Sierra del Becerro mountains.
As well as being known for its production of Christmas-time sweets called mantecados in Spanish, tourism is a major part of the local economy along with agriculture like olive-growing.
