battered and bleeding on the ground.

The 65-year-old Canadian suffered head injuries and a suspected broken rib.

His attackers fled empty-handed after demanding cash.

The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday at the Astwood Cove Resort in Warwick.

Two masked men approached the victim and his 59-year-old wife as they sat on the patio outside their room.

Seemingly unarmed, they demanded cash and threw the man to the ground. A struggle followed.

"But the two offenders are believed to have fled empty-handed after the woman screamed,'' said Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning.

He added a man from a neighbouring room came to the couple's aid, and managed to grab one of the attackers.

"But he was able to break free after a struggle and both offenders escaped,'' said P.c. Venning.

The man was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. His wife was unhurt.

Last night the couple were said to be recovering in their room from the ordeal.

"I don't think they want to be disturbed,'' an Astwood Cove spokesman said.

P.c. Venning said the attempted robbery was being investigated.

In a separate incident yesterday, a visitor at Paget's Newstead guest property awoke at 2 a.m. to find a thief in his bedroom.

He tried to grab the man, but the intruder escaped through an open sliding glass door. About $40 in cash, and some credit cards, were taken from the visitor's wallet. Hospital attack -- Page 8.