A Bainbridge Island man has passed away after an attack in Mexico over the holiday weekend.

Patrick Warga, 46, leaves behind a wife and three children after dying Tuesday night in San Diego. Warga suffered severe injuries from a mugging in the Mexican City of Tampico.

Warga was working as a tugboat captain for Foss Maritime, a company based in Seattle. His most recent job took him to the Gulf of Mexico near the city of Tampico. Away from home for the Christmas holiday, Warga wanted to visit a church on Christmas Eve. Along with a fellow shipmate, he ventured to a church in town. When it became late, the two men were unable to get a taxi back to their boat due to the area of town being dangerous after dark. Warga and his shipmate decided to rent a hotel room for the evening and return to their boat the following day.

The next morning, Warga’s shipmate was unable to locate him. It is believed that he went out for an early morning cup of tea when he was attacked and mugged. Warga’s injuries were so severe that he slipped into a coma and was airlifted to a hospital in San Diego.

His family was contacted and they immediately traveled to San Diego to be with him.

Newspapers in Mexico reported that police have arrested a 20-year-old man believed to be the suspect in Warga’s mugging. Jose Igncio Espinosa Perez was taken into custody on Dec. 26.

Out of respect for the Warga family’s desire for privacy during this difficult time, Foss refrained from commenting in detail but did offer their sincerest condolences.

“He will be missed as a work colleague and friend more than words can express,” said Gary Faber, president and COO of Foss.

A memorial account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to help the Warga family with their expenses. Community members who wish contribute can visit any Wells Fargo branch and donate to the “Patrick Warga Memorial Fund.”