Steve Storton
Cruise Ship Passenger Shot During Robbery
P & O Oceana - January 28, 2008
Two married, high earning taxi cab drivers take a luxury cruise, one of them wearing an expensive watch. The watch almost ended their cruise, and the life of the husband.
Instead, after being targeted for robbery while wearing a flashy watch and then getting shot in the chest during the robbery on the Venezuelan island of Margherita, Steve Storton from Wales, reboarded the P & O Cruises ship Oceana and didn't tell a soul until he returned home.
The Stortons, cruise ship passengers on a 15-night P & O cruise, returned to the ship after the attack and finished the last seven days of the cruise. Mr. Storton says he didn't tell anyone aboard Oceana, and just resumed the cruise as if nothing happened.
The couple were shopping in the Venezuelan port of call, when Steve Storton left his wife Sue, age 57, in a store to find some beverages for them. Once outside the shop, a robber with a big, black handgun approached him in the bustling shopping district, shoved the gun against his chest and ordered Storton to give up his Rolex watch.
Storton said he went into port with the expensive watch on because he wanted to be sure to be back on the ship before it left port.
Not to be pushed around, Storton refused to give up his watch, and instantly pushed the gun away. As the gun moved from the center of his chest to the side, the robber fired the gun at point blank range missing Storton's vital organs.
The robber fired two more shots as he fled into a waiting car, then got stuck in traffic. As police chased down the thief, a gun fight took place, with two officers being shot, one police officer later died.
Another police officer drove Storton to a local hospital, where he was given an X-ray. The X-ray determined the bullet has passed through Storton, exiting through his back, missing all vital organs. He was treated with antibiotics and pain medication and released before the ship left port.
Storton said the gunman “whacked” him over the head with the butt of the gun and he fell to his knees.
He added, “I offered my left arm up to him which had my watch on as I feared for my life. He took it from me and ran to the front passenger seat of a silver four door car, similar to a Mazda. I then noticed blood on my T-shirt and shorts on my right hand side and lots of people gathered around. I could then hear a further volley of gunshots as the police tried to get him. I was aware of lots of sirens and police vehicles around."
Storton continues, "My wife and myself were taken to hospital in a police car. The policeman stayed with me in the local hospital while I was treated and sadly, he told me it was his friend and police colleague who had been shot dead trying to apprehend my assailant. I was told people in that part of Venezuela could live for three years on what they would get after selling my watch."
The value of the watch in this case was about £7,000 or about $13,000US, but would have sold for much less on the black market in Venezuela.
P & O Cruises describes the port of call as an
"Oasis of calm and relaxation".
Steve Storton
Date: January 28, 2008
Cruise Bruise: Assaulted
Bruise Location: Margherita Island, Venezuela
Age: 53
Home Town: UK
Cruise Line: P & O Cruises
Ship: Oceana
Details:
Cruise Bruise has tried to educate our visitors, by telling them not to wear expensive jewelry or clothing while in port of calls, not to carry handbags and not to carry large amounts of money. This is the reason why.
P & O Cruises describe the island port of call much differently than this case portrays. They say, "Margarita is a favourite holiday destination for Venezuelans who find it an oasis of calm and relaxation."
