17 May 2023 , 12:51
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A young tourist has died in an horrific unprovoked machete attack near a beachside restaurant, which left two others injured as they tried to step in and help.
Benjamin Gamond, an Argentine tourist, and his friends were leaving a beach restaurant on Chacahua Island in Mexico on Saturday when a man came at them from behind them waving a machete-style knife.
Mr Gamond received a fractured skull in the onslaught and was taken to a nearby hospital and, from there, was transferred to a larger facility in Mexico City.
He died of his injuries on Monday.
The other victims - couple Santiago Lastra and Macarena Gonzalez - were injured while trying to save Mr Gamond.
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Santiago, 22, sustained cuts to his hands and a fracture, while Macarena, 29, suffered deep cuts to her back.
Benjamin Gamond was just 23 (Newsflash)Both are now out of danger, according to reports.
Mr Gamond from Cordoba and was a keen rugby player and leaves behind seven older siblings.
His family has described him as "a beautiful, kind, humble, and friendly guy".
He had travelled to Mexico to spend some time working as a waiter, as he had done once before.
He had finished his stint in Tulum before travelling to the other side of the country with his longtime pal, Santiago, and Santiago's girlfriend to explore with the money they had earned.
Police officers arrested the suspect, 21-year-old Irving Martinez Flores, originally from Ometepec, following the attack
Macarena's father Fernanda Carina Gonzalez told local media: "The assailant came running out of nowhere, like a madman, and attacked Benjamin Gamond with the machete, hitting him in the face and head.
He had been travelling with friends (Newsflash)
His friends were attacked as they tried to help (Newsflash)"The only thing he said to him was, 'They sent you, they sent you.'
"Then Maca threw herself at him to prevent further attacks, and that's when he also attacked her.
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"My daughter managed to get up and run for help. He also attacked her boyfriend, causing cuts to his arms and a wrist fracture."
He added: "The paramedics couldn't believe it, they couldn't understand how something like this could happen.
"In that place, people sleep with their doors open, it's incredibly idyllic and peaceful."
The case is now in the hands of the Oaxaca State Prosecutor's Office.