Venice police chip in and pay for flight home for British pensioners who ended up stuck there and penniless after they were mugged in Egypt and plane home was diverted to Italy when husband fell ill

Kind-hearted Italian police stepped in and paid a British couple to fly home for Christmas when they found themselves stranded after being robbed while on holiday.

Officers held a celebratory whipping round after learning the couple had cut short their holiday in Egypt when they were targeted by thieves and decided to fly home.

But their bad luck continued after the husband – who has not been identified – fell ill on the return flight and the plane had to divert and make an unscheduled landing.

The couple, who have not yet been named, were on a mid-winter holiday in the Egyptian seaside resort of Hurghada on the Red Sea earlier this month.

But what should have been a relaxing trip for the couple in their 60s turned into a nightmare after they were robbed. They decided to cut their trip short and opted to head home.

The couple, who have not yet been named, were on a mid-winter holiday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada earlier this month (Image Image)

Their plane was forced to land in the Italian city of Venice (File image)

However, their astonishing misadventures continued after the man fell ill on their easyJet flight to Manchester and the plane was forced to land in the Italian city of Venice.

Paramedics met the plane last Monday and the man was taken to hospital, where he was treated by doctors for several days for an undisclosed condition.

But once they were discharged, they were unable to purchase a new ticket for their journey home, so Venetian police stepped in and paid for the couple's flight home for Christmas.

A Venice police spokesman said: 'The man became ill on a flight between Egypt and Manchester and the plane was diverted to Venice.

'He was treated in hospital for a few days and when he was discharged it turned out they had no money to pay for his ticket home.

'Officers took up a collection and paid for the ticket home so they could get back in time for Christmas.'

Flight registration websites show the flight left Egypt last week and then detoured to Venice after the captain decided to make an unscheduled stop when the man fell ill.

A spokesperson for easyJet told MailOnline:

'We can confirm that flight EZY2252 from Hurghada to Manchester was diverted to Venice on December 18 due to a passenger on board requiring urgent medical attention.

'Paramedics met the aircraft on arrival and the flight then continued to Manchester.

'The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet's top priority.

'We have tried to reach the booker and traveling companion to assist them further, including free hotel accommodation and a flight home.'