An American doctor died at a hospital in Alabama after he was found beaten and left for dead in a ditch while on vacation in Mexico.
He was pronounced dead on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
O'Byrne was an anesthesiologist who specialized in critical care. A graduate of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, he worked at UAB Hospital as an associate professor and doctor.
Friends said O'Byrne was on vacation in Puerto Vallarta when he was severely beaten and left for dead.
Friends found him and rushed him to a hospital there before he was airlifted to Alabama.
American authorities have not confirmed that account, although a spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said that they’re aware of the case and are working on gathering information.
Hall remembered O'Byrne as a special man.
“Like he was to so many medical students and residents before me, he was my mentor and friend,'' Hall told AL.com.
“He was a gifted physician trained both in medicine and anesthesiology with fellowship training in critical care. He showed kindness and genuine concern for his patients above and beyond that of other physicians.”
“Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread,” the department stated in an alert.
There are no specific alerts for Puerto Vallarta but there is a level 3 warning in place for the state it’s in, with “violent crime and gang activity common in parts of Jalisco state.”
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