Golfer dies after being mugged on holiday
10:00am Sunday 6th July 2008
A GOLFER who was brutally mugged while on holiday has died after his family agreed to turn his life support machine off.
David Morley had been enjoying a golfing vacation with his wife Marie in the exclusive millionaires' resort and golfers' paradise of Vilamoura in the Algarve, Portugal, when he was set upon by muggers.
The 64-year-old, of Ryton, Gateshead, was believed to be taking a short-cut to catch up with members of his golfing party when he was attacked on Friday, June 27.
He was found lying in a street of the town suffering severe head injuries by a passer-by at around 3am.
He was rushed to the Sao Jose hospital in Lisbon and placed in intensive care after slipping into a coma.
But his wife Marie give permission for his life support machine to be switched off on Friday after tests found he was brain dead.
A former school friend of Mr Morley's, John Charlton, who also played golf with him, paid an emotional tribute saying he was "one of the nicest men you could hope to meet".
He said: "Everyone who knew David is utterly devastated by what has happened. I spoke to him a few days before he was due to go to Vilamoura and he told me how much he was looking forward to his holiday.
"He was such a generous man and would always help people where he could. He was also very humorous and was a delight to play a game of golf with.
"His wife Marie was also a keen golfer, having taken it up in recent years and they loved to go to Vilamoura.
"Marie is still out there and I feel so sorry for her because she is such a lovely woman."