A couple and their son are said to be receiving counselling after allegedly fighting off a burglar who died at their £1.5m home.
A suspected burglar has died after he was restrained by a British father and son who allegedly caught him breaking into their £1.5m villa on the Algarve in Portugal.
It is thought the suspect, who was discovered at the house on the outskirts of Vilamoura, was still alive when police first arrived after being called by the British man's wife.
Officers found the father and son - named locally as Trevor and Scott Taylor - grappling with the suspect while Jill Taylor was in the garden, according to sources.
The father, 60, was on top of the suspect while the son had his arm around his neck, it is believed.
The suspected intruder is understood to have suffered heart failure as officers went to handcuff him and they were unable to revive him.
It is alleged Mrs Taylor, 59, had heard a noise in the house, went to investigate and found a man with family possessions in his hands including their car keys.
She screamed and then her husband and son came into the room and apprehended him before police arrived in the early hours of Sunday.
The father and son are believed to have sustained minor injuries and have been questioned by officers but not arrested.
However, if they want to leave the neighbourhood they have to inform the Portuguese authorities.
Now it is up to the public prosecutor to decide if legal action is brought.
A source said: "Police received a call around 4am on Sunday and when GNR officers arrived, found the wife waiting for them in the garden.
"The father was on top of the intruder when police went in and his son behind him with his arm round his neck. There had obviously been a struggle and the son was trying to restrain him while his dad tied his hands up.
"They said he was very strong and insisted on staying where they were until police cuffed the burglar.
"At that point they got up and moved away and that's when officers noticed the man was making strange movements.
"On closer examination they saw he was unconscious and didn't appear to be breathing. They tried to revive him but were unsuccessful."
It is understood the trio are "shocked and upset" and are receiving expert counselling after their ordeal.
Mr and Mrs Taylor are keen golfers who retired to Vilamoura to enjoy the area's top golf courses and are believed to have lived in Portugal for around three decades.
Scott Taylor, 31, is understood to be the owner of the property and bought it in 2002.
A post-mortem examination is due to take place to determine the exact cause of the suspect's death.
Police sources said the alleged intruder, a Portuguese man in his twenties who has not been named, was known to them after arrests for robbery.
Under Portuguese law, self-defence is allowed for people to protect their property.
Nevertheless, it must be proportional to the danger that people at the property are under.
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