A Swedish expat has died as a result of his injuries following a brutal robbery in southern Spain.
Christian Pikulak, 30, was attacked in downtown Torrevieja on October 3, his partner Vivienne said in an online statement.
The grieving girlfriend said Christian, who owned a burger restaurant, was in a coma for several days before dying on Tuesday morning (October 7).
She wrote: ‘He was dragged several metres by a car when the perpetrators stole his cell phone – and his life could not be saved.
‘After several days in a coma and struggling in the hospital in Elche, he died on October 7.
‘Christian was a Swedish citizen, living in Spain for three years, where he built his company and restaurant, Smashed Burger.
‘He was only 30 years old, a man full of life, dreams, and love for his family, friends, and work.
‘Now I, his partner, along with his mother, am in Spain with a broken heart and a great responsibility.’
She said the family need funds to bring Christian’s body home to Sweden and for a funeral.
They also need to ‘pay the salaries of Smashed Burger employees’ and ‘clear the company’s bills and contracts’.
This, she said, is on top of the legal fees related to the murder investigation.
Vivienne added: ‘The costs of home transportation and all administrative expenses are far beyond what we can handle. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover anything.
‘Every contribution – large or small – will help us bring Christian home, address practical issues, and give him the respect he deserves.
‘Any surplus will go toward paying debts, staff, and his mother, who is currently at my side.’
Vivienne first made an appeal for witnesses the morning after the brutal attack.
She explained how at around 4am on October 3, she and Christian were ‘victims of a violent robbery and hit-and-run’ while walking home on Calle de Pedro Lorca.
She added: ‘A larger white car stopped next to us, with four to five people inside. They asked for directions to La Zenia and then took my boyfriend’s phone when he showed them the way.
‘The car suddenly sped off, crashed into a trash container, and my boyfriend was thrown violently to the ground. He is now in a coma at the hospital (Elche/Torrevieja) with severe injuries.
‘We have reported this to the police, and through ‘Find my iPhone’ we saw the phone moving towards Alicante.’
