On Monday night tourists Art McDonald and his fiance? Roxanne Coats were pondering how low Bermudians could stoop when a thief stole her purse as she was being treated after a road crash.

Yesterday, their faith in human nature was restored after a Bermudian handed in the wallet after finding it discarded in the bushes.reported yesterday how as Ms Coats lay injured outside Admiralty Park, Pembroke, after her bike was hit by a car, a thief slipped into her bag and stole her wallet.

Someone - whether it was the robber or an innocent person - returned the bag to Mr. McDonald, minus the wallet. It was only when he went for identification and insurance information at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital did he realise his wife-to-be's wallet had been stolen.

Kris Martin and his friend Jamar Dill found the wallet discarded yesterday and after reading the story, went immediately to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to return it to the injured woman. Mr. McDonald, of Nashville, Tennessee, said: “It's great. It kind of endorses your faith in humanity.

“There was only about $30 or $40 dollars missing from the wallet but all the credit cards were intact. I gave them $50 I was so grateful.”

Ms Coats broke her hip in the accident and yesterday the couple the were still deciding on whether to press ahead with their wedding, which is planned for Saturday at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel. Fearing the worst, Mr. McDonald had contacted family members in the US to not come to Bermuda - considering Ms Coates condition.

Mr. Martin, 37, of Spanish Point, told yesterday: “I was just walking about in the park and I found it in the trees.

“I looked at the name and then I read the story in the newspaper. If I didn't know about the story, I would have taken it to the Police station. I always try to help tourists and never diss them because they are our future, they bring in our money. They were very appreciative of it.”