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| Cash van raid 'hero' has surgery | Cash van raid 'hero' has surgery |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A man hailed by police as a hero after he was shot in the chest while trying to stop robbers attacking a security guard has undergone surgery. | A man hailed by police as a hero after he was shot in the chest while trying to stop robbers attacking a security guard has undergone surgery. |
| Adam Mapleson, 24, intervened as the guard and her colleague were held at gunpoint in Rayleigh, Essex. | |
| Mr Mapleson is still seriously ill after being injured by the robbers, who mugged the guards as they loaded a cash machine on Friday morning. | |
| The robbers are believed to have got away with tens of thousands of pounds. | The robbers are believed to have got away with tens of thousands of pounds. |
| However, security experts have said that if they try to force open the box the money is in, the notes will become soaked in a red indelible dye, rendering them useless. | However, security experts have said that if they try to force open the box the money is in, the notes will become soaked in a red indelible dye, rendering them useless. |
| He was heroic, there is no doubt about it Det Supt Michael Field, of the British Transport Police | He was heroic, there is no doubt about it Det Supt Michael Field, of the British Transport Police |
| The raiders escaped in a Ford Escort, after the raid. It was later found abandoned in Eastcheap, less than a mile away. | The raiders escaped in a Ford Escort, after the raid. It was later found abandoned in Eastcheap, less than a mile away. |
| It is believed they may have got into another vehicle after dumping the white Escort. | It is believed they may have got into another vehicle after dumping the white Escort. |
| Parts of the raid were caught on CCTV, which detectives hope will help them identify the raiders. | Parts of the raid were caught on CCTV, which detectives hope will help them identify the raiders. |
| Det Supt Michael Field, of the British Transport Police, said Mr Mapleson had put himself at great risk. | |
| "He was heroic, there is no doubt about it," he said. | |
| "He went to the aid of a female guard who was being robbed. He put his life on the line." | "He went to the aid of a female guard who was being robbed. He put his life on the line." |
| Two shots | Two shots |
| The guards, who performed first aid on the man who helped them, were uninjured in the raid but left badly shaken. | The guards, who performed first aid on the man who helped them, were uninjured in the raid but left badly shaken. |
| Det Supt Field said the robbers were "reckless, very dangerous" and "appear not to have any regard for human life". | Det Supt Field said the robbers were "reckless, very dangerous" and "appear not to have any regard for human life". |
| It is understood the man who fired the gun was wearing white or cream trainers. He is said to have fired two shots. | It is understood the man who fired the gun was wearing white or cream trainers. He is said to have fired two shots. |
| Police said they had located several key witnesses and their investigation was currently focused on the Essex area, although it could be expanded. | Police said they had located several key witnesses and their investigation was currently focused on the Essex area, although it could be expanded. |