Woman suffered heart attack during burglary ordeal

Maria Axiaq, the 74-year-old woman who was robbed in her home on Sunday evening and left bound for 23 hours, suffered a minor heart attack as a result of her ordeal and is recovering in hospital. Her son Bro Vince Axiaq said €1,400 and some rings were stolen after an unknown man burst into his mother's house in Luqa and bound her hands behind her back. The burglar, who spoke Maltese with a foreign accent, wielded a knife, demanded cash and gold and threatened the woman. His face was not covered. Ms Axiaq, a widow, was particularly unlucky in that her son, who usually phoned   in the evening, phoned her in the morning on Sunday. A grandson who usually sleeps at her house, also happened to be away. Ms Axiaq was discovered by a daughter yesterday at around 5 p.m. More details in The Times tomorrow.