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Bloody cruise attack: British tourist arrested after alleged attempt to kill girlfriend and crew
A British holidaymaker has been arrested in Tenerife after an alleged frenzied attack on his girlfriend during a sunset cruise, leaving her with a serious neck wound.
A British man has been arrested in Tenerife after an alleged violent attack on his girlfriend during a sunset cruise. Thomas Gilpin, 22, reportedly slashed Eleanor Gilbert’s, 22, neck with a scalpel just five minutes after setting sail, with their six-month-old son on board.Gilpin, who had paid £600 for the trip with his partner and their six-month-old son, is alleged to have calmly sat beside Eleanor before suddenly slashing her neck. The blade narrowly missed her jugular vein, leaving her with a deep, gaping wound that required 33 stitches. The wound measured 5 inches (12.7 cm) in length.
The violence didn’t stop there. After the alleged attack on Eleanor, Gilpin reportedly turned the blade on the captain and first mate, injuring both in the struggle to subdue him. A dramatic video shows the skipper repeatedly punching Gilpin as they tried to regain control of the boat.
The crew succeeded in turning the boat around and returning to port, where paramedics and police boarded to arrest Gilpin and treat the victims.
The incident took place during what should have been a relaxing family holiday in Las Americas, Tenerife, with Eleanor’s relatives. The couple had been in a two-year relationship, which had been described as “rocky”. Eleanor had confided in friends about Gilpin’s aggressive behaviour in the past and expressed concern about him isolating her from others.
A family friend spoke out about the shocking attack, describing it as premeditated. “The police consider this a premeditated attack. He took the scalpel knowing what he was going to do. He deliberately took Eleanor away from us with the intention of killing her. We count our lucky stars that she is still here.”
The friend added: “We are sure that, without the first mate’s help, they would all be dead. Eleanor is convinced his aim was to kill everybody on board.”
Gilpin remains in custody in Tenerife, where a judge is investigating the case as a domestic violence attack.
Eleanor is recovering from the ordeal, but her family is thankful that she survived the terrifying incident.
“She is a survivor and she is not afraid to show her scar. She is thankful she got out of this alive and said she feels like she has just woken up from a two-year coma. We are grateful to have her back.”
Image: Archive
