Help Beth & Nick after Belize Robbery and Assault

Dear Community,

I'm Charlie and am raising funds for fellow travellers Beth Paul and Nick Lonsdale.

I come to you with a heavy heart to share the story of my new friends. Nick and Beth, a young British couple, embarked on the journey of a lifetime; a motorcycle expedition from Texas to Ushuaia, Argentina. Recently however, their adventure took a harrowing turn in Belize:

It's almost 1am and Beth and Nick are camped in an established campground in Belize when five men armed with guns and machetes cut their way into the tent claiming to be police. After being pulled outside, the pair were then bound with ropes and forced to surrender all their possessions: Phones, GPS devices, Cameras, Go Pros, Helmet Comms, Tools, $700 in cash and memory cards filled with cherished trip photographs. This process involved an hour of Beth and Nick watching while the thieves broke into / cut open all their luggage, tipping all of their belongings onto the floor in pouring rain. Within the hour Beth and Nick’s losses amounted to almost 7000 GBP / 8800 USD.

Sadly it gets worse. After finding some spent ammunition kept as a souvenir from the USA, the thieves believed Beth and Nick were armed. Repeated explanations about the spent brass were in vain and Nick endured physical assault, being repeatedly kicked in the face with his hands tied behind his back, he was hit in the back of the head with a hunting rifle and suffered a bad concussion. Beth endured a terrifying sexual assault. Nick described to me the terror they felt while thieves put a machete to each of their throats and pointed a gun at their kneecaps, repeatedly counting down to zero in an attempt to make them reveal the location of the non-existent guns. Beth and Nick were eventually left, albeit with nothing of value but their motorcycles (which the thieves were unable to operate) face down in the mud with the hands tied. They remained here for several hours before being freed.

The police were then called, who visited the scene of the crime at 4am for just 30 minutes before leaving without offering the couple any shelter, form of communication, or peace of mind. Despite the trauma and lack of support from local authorities, Nick and Beth displayed remarkable resilience. They decided to leave the campsite immediately for their own safety, packing their soaked belongings into what luggage was still useable, they rode through the night seeking refuge in a gas station 40km away until the morning.

Sadly, the financial repercussions of this ordeal are profound. Beth and Nick, like many people attempting such an adventure, meticulously planned their journey on a shoestring budget. They purchased all their equipment second-hand, which has meant their insurance company has made it clear they are unlikely to pay out a cent of compensation. Now, stripped of their possessions and grappling with the emotional aftermath of the ordeal, Nick and Beth stand at a crossroads. After much deliberation about finishing the trip and going home, they have however decided to try to complete their journey. I am now with the pair in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan where they are currently working out how to get things back into motion.

As a fellow member of the ADV motorcycle community, I am reaching out to ask for your support. While I understand that no amount of money can fully heal the wounds inflicted that night, I believe we can help alleviate some of their burdens. Let's come together to provide Nick and Beth with the means to reclaim a part of what was taken from them. Your contribution will not only assist them in replacing essential gear but will also serve as a beacon of solidarity, showing Nick and Beth that they are not alone in their journey to overcome this adversity. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference. If you're reading this, I know you would want to buy these guys a beer if you met them after this ordeal, so now is your chance to do so.

Let's rally behind Nick and Beth, showing them that their community stands strong, especially in their time of need. Together, we can help them continue their remarkable journey and restore a sense of hope and confidence in their decisions.

While this fundraiser will unlikely be sufficent to cover Beth and Nicks losses, here's how the donated funds will be used:

100% of donations are going to Nick and Beth's bank accounts directly.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support!

If you would like to reach out to Beth and Nick Personally, you can find them on instagram @Mundurodetontos