First pic of Brit millionaire dad, 50, shot dead in motorbike robbery outside five-star hotel in Argentina
A MILLIONAIRE homes boss has been murdered during a terrifying armed robbery after being followed to his hotel by brutal thugs on a Christmas break.
Matthew Gibbard, 50, was shot dead on Saturday morning outside the £350-a-night five star Faena Art Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His stepson Stefan Zone, 28, was last night fighting for his life in hospital after also being fired at by the robbers.
Gibbard was fatally shot in the chest, and his son seriously injured in the horrific ambush moments after landing in Buenos Aires.
The two attackers had followed the six-strong British family by motorbike after marking their minibus when it left Ezeiza Airport.
Cops said that upon arriving at the exclusive, luxury five-star hotel, the men were attacked by gun-wielding motorcycle robbers in the Puerto Madero district of the capital.
Police said the robbers, who had been circling the area, also had a support vehicle nearby during their 11am ambush.
“VERY POPULAR”
Mr Gibbard is the director of retirement homes firm Tingdene, which last year posted a turnover of £20million.
He is married to Suzanne, 52, and they live in a huge gates property in Lowick, a picture postcard village in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Becky Miles, who works in the local pub the Snooty Fox, burst into tears over the tragedy and paid tribute to Mr Gibbard.
She told The Sun: “It’s absolutely terrible, they are lovely people. They were regulars in the pub.
“Matt was such a beautiful, beautiful human being and a true gentleman.
“He did so much for the village and even put the firework display on himself
“They are a very successful family and very popular in the village.”
FAMILY ‘MARKED’
Investigators at the National Prefecture have asked local cops and the Airport Security Police for details of the holidaymakers’ exact route to the hotel.
They believe the robbers had “marked” the family upon arrival at the international airport and that they followed their vehicle to launch a surprise attack as soon as they got out.
CCTV footage shows their minibus pull up to the hotel entrance, and a man help them take their luggage from the boot.
But suddenly all hell breaks loose and people are seen scrambling for cover from the vehicle.
The video, published by Argentina’s Perfil newspaper, shows the pair fighting with the robbers on the street until one thug pulls out a gun and shoots one of the men, who falls to the ground.
The other man tries to intervene and he too is shot, before the assailants flee the scene. Witnesses said at least five shots were fired.
Other surveillance footage appears to show three people, believed to be members of the family, fighting off the two attackers.
As the horrendous clip ends one man is seen lying on the floor apparently in agony.
According to initial reports, Mr Gibbard was shot in the armpit and suffered a haemorrhage after the bullet entered his chest.
He died of his wounds shortly after arriving at hospital.
His stepson received a bullet to his left leg which missed his femoral artery and is reportedly in a serious condition.
Three ambulances arrived within minutes which took both to the local Argerich hospital.
One witness, named as Florencia, said he arrived at the scene shortly after the incident.
“I was walking the dog, I see that there were many people in the corner of the Faena [Hotel],” he said.
The driver of the minibus has given a statement to the police.
A spokesman for the hotel said: “We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.”
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A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are supporting the family of two British men following an incident in Buenos Aires, and are in contact with the local authorities there.”
More than 111,000 British nationals visited Argentina in 2018, according to the Foreign Office, which said most visits are “trouble-free”.
But tourists are warned to be alert to street crime, including armed robberies, and advised to hand over cash and valuables without resistance.
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