The two British engineering graduates who collapsed in the sand after being drugged and robbed in a "Good night, Cinderella" scam have thanked the driver who filmed the incident and possibly saved their lives.
The two friends, who were interviewed on TV but did not give their names, had travelled to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to celebrate their graduation.
They had been in the popular tourist city for 10 days before meeting three women during a night out.
They told local media that after the video went viral around the world, they had been contacted by worried relatives and, with the suspects now identified by police, they are preparing to return to the UK.
One of the victims, who was filmed as he collapsed in the sand, described the trip before the robbery as "a beautiful 10 days" in which they had visited Christ the Redeemer and Ipanema Beach.
The 21-year-old man said: "Maybe I'll go back… but for now, that’s enough of Brazil."
Speaking about the incident, he recalled: "I took two sips and I don't remember much of anything else."
He praised the 19-year-old delivery driver who filmed the scene and called emergency services.
He said: "I would like to thank him, whoever he is. He filmed, called an ambulance, and helped the police track down the suspects. Thank you to him, whoever he is."
The delivery driver said he had been told by a bystander that "these women just drugged him, they're taking his things."
He confronted the women, saw them flee in a taxi, and when he returned 10 minutes later, he found the tourist still unresponsive, drooling, and face-down in the sand.
He then called for help, which police say may have prevented more serious medical consequences.
The victim added: "I tried to fight the drug. By the time I got to the beach I was completely out of it."
His companion, who was also targeted, realised something was wrong and threw his phone into the sand to stop it from being stolen right before he passed out as well.
Police said around GBP 20,000 was moved from one victim’s investment account to his current account during the robbery, but only about GBP 2,000 was spent before the funds were frozen.
Around GBP 18,000 has since been recovered.
The suspects – named as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27 – are still being sought.
Officers believe they were in contact by phone with another person during the incident and are working to identify them.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
NewsX-BritsRios-01.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows the British men enjoying their time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then they fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-02.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows the British men enjoying their time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then they fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-03.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows the British man enjoying his time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then he fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-04.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows one of the British tourists victim of a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-05.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows one of the British tourists victim of a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-06.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows the British tourists victims to a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-07.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Picture shows the British men after the scam in Brazil, undated. They fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-01.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-06.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-07.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-08.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-02.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the suspects Amanda Couto Deloca, 23; Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26; and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, undated. They are call girls. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-03.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-04.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-05.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi Aug. 8, 2025. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-01.mp4 Video Copyright: Newsflash/NX Video Caption: Archive Video | Caption: Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. ***Video Licence Restrictions: NEWS MEDIA PORTALS ONLY. Usage on social media is possible but we offer no guarantees. This video is offered under our ‘social and local media source’ licence. For details see https://newsx.agency/licences/
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Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik
Byline Copychecker: Angela Trajkovska
Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Ipanema
Subject: Business, Tourism Business, Humans, Men, Society
