UPDATED: A 29-year-old woman from Newport has sustained horrific second and third degree burns to over 30% of her body following an acid attack in the Algarve.
Eleanor Chessell was dowsed in 2 litres of the corrosive substance following an attack in Alvor near Portimão on Saturday night.
Police are investigating the circumstances behind the shocking roadside incident, which has left the travel rep with significant burns to her arms, stomach and legs. The acid missed her face.
Investigations are said to be leaning towards an ex-boyfriend being responsible for the attack with another line of enquiry being that he paid someone else to carry out the disgusting act. It is thought the victim was lured to the area by means of a fake Facebook profile.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office has said:
“We have offered assistance to a British woman who is being treated in hospital in Lisbon following an incident in Alvor, Portugal.
“We are in contact with the hospital and Portuguese police.”
It is thought the woman’s family are by her bedside as she recovers from the ordeal. When in the UK she is understood to live with her mother, step father and brother on a quiet residential street in the heart of Newport.
UPDATE – It has been confirmed that Eleanor was working in the Algarve as a rep for major company TUI.
A spokesperson for Thomson and First Choice has said:
“Sadly we can confirm that one of our holiday reps has been involved in a serious incident in Portugal.
“Our resort team are fully supporting our colleague and are co-operating with the investigation currently taking place by the local police.
‘”e would like to reassure our customers that this is an isolated incident and situations like this are extremely rare”.
