A FORMER owner of a Suffolk tourist attraction was last night receiving emergency hospital treatment after being stabbed several times while on holiday.

By Richard Smith

A FORMER owner of a Suffolk tourist attraction was last night receiving emergency hospital treatment after being stabbed several times while on holiday.

Brian Le Grys was seriously injured during the brutal attack in Tunisia and his condition was described as ''critical.''

Mr Le Grys, of Bealings Road, Martlesham, near Woodbridge, was travelling alone when he was injured at the weekend. The circumstances surrounding the attack have not been made public.

His son Nick Le Grys is flying to the North African country to comfort Mr Le Grys and to discover more about the attack.

''He is in hospital and has been in a critical condition. He was stabbed several times, in the chest, stomach and back, and he had to have corrective surgery to solve his internal problems,'' said Mr Le Grys.

He said he was told about the attack on Monday but he knew very little detail about the incident and he was now preparing to fly to the country to be with his father.

Mr Le Grys was due back in Suffolk this Sunday and the attack occurred half-way through his two-week trip.

He is a well-known businessman. In 1986 he bought the Suffolk Wildlife and Country Park at Kessingland and his family ran the tourist attraction for five years.

The incident took place in Sousse, a port and major resort in Tunisia. The main landmarks are the 9th Century Ribat fortress and Grand Mosque. Close by is an international airport at Monastir.

Up to 250,000 British people visited Tunisia last year, mainly as tourists, and the British Embassy has warned that there was a ''continuing risk from terrorism.''

The Embassy's website warns tourists about trouble in the country and says: ''There is a general threat to Western and British interests from terrorism. Although the Tunisians operate a robust security policy, terrorists have demonstrated that they are prepared to target tourist areas.

''There is little violent crime but visitors should watch out for petty criminals such as pickpockets, particularly in crowded market places.''

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said yesterday: ''I can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving a British national in Tunisia. We are not involved at all.''

The Foreign Office was alerted to the attack on Mr Le Grys by a travel agent but the spokeswoman said: ''We have not spoken to the person directly but the person has made it very clear that he does not want any details released.''

The British Consul offices in Tunis said it did not have any information relating to the incident. The police headquarters in Sousse was unable to provide details about the attack.