A SUFFOLK man has spoken of the moment he and his wife were shot while on the holiday island of Barbados.

Philip and Ann Prior, from Bedfield, near Framlingham, were attacked in the capital, Bridgetown, during a round the world cruise.

Mr Prior, 72, said he and his wife, 59, were “in good shape” following the ordeal.

After being treated in hospital, they have decided to continue with their cruise and have now rejoined the ship.

Speaking from his cabin on the cruise liner, off the coast of Antigua, Mr Prior told of the moment he heard “bangs” as the couple were sight-seeing. “Ann was shouting ‘my bag, my bag’. I turned round to see that somebody was trying get the bag off Ann and suddenly I felt a pain in my groin after a bit of a bang,” he said. “Suddenly there was a second shot and Ann got wounded. It’s all very difficult to recollect...it all happened so quickly.”

He said he and his wife both fell to the ground and he had not initially realised he had been shot but then discovered a wound in his groin.

Passers-by came to their aid and the couple were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where they received “wonderful treatment”, Mr Prior said. He said doctors advised them against flying and they decided the ship would be a good place to recuperate.

Junior Orlando Hunte, 28, of Rices, St Philip, Barbados, has been charged with robbing Mrs Prior and causing serious bodily harm to the couple. A second man, Marlon Gooding, 35, of Union, St Philip, Barbados, has been charged with robbing Mrs Prior. After appearing in court they have been remanded in custody.