Ultimate dog act as heartless woman rips off terminally ill pokie player’s winnings after he collapsed during a medical emergency
The moment a callous thief stole a winning gambling ticket from a terminally ill man after falling to the ground has been captured on CCTV.
Thomas Purtill decided to take a chance on November 27 at his local pub in Caboolture, an hour north of Brisbane.
The 80-year-old won $300 and decided to cash in his winnings.
But along the way he suffered a medical episode and collapsed on the floor.
The moment a callous thief stole a winning gambling ticket from a terminally ill man after he fell to the ground has been captured on CCTV
The thief initially showed concern for Mr Purtill as he lay helpless and called for pub staff.
But once she saw the card, he dropped the woman cashed in the winnings while being treated by others.
The elderly man was suffering from terminal cancer and was given only three to six months to live. He enjoyed his day out with plans to get a haircut and then go home.
‘I remember landing on the ground. I think I fell before I got the ticket in the machine (to redeem it),” Mr Purtill said 7News .
When asked what he would like to see happen to the woman, he replied: ‘I can’t really say that on TV. It wouldn’t be allowed.’
“If you’re that desperate… If someone came up to me and said, ‘You won, can I have $10 to buy a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk for the kids?’ I would to do that. I gave it to them.’
Thomas Purtill, 80, suffered a medical episode and collapsed after winning $300 on the pokies at his local pub in Caboolture
Another patron allegedly stole the terminally ill man’s ticket and pocketed the winnings for himself
“It’s weak,” he added, urging anyone who knows the woman to “give her up.”
Mr Purtill spent two days in hospital after the incident and has since returned for treatment for his cancer.
Police are calling on anyone who knows the woman or has information to contact them immediately.