A paparazzo who was attacked and left with a fractured arm after photographing Margot Robbie and Cara Delevingne in Argentina claims it is a “miracle” that he survived the assault.
Pedro Alberto Orquera was assaulted by British film producer Josey MacNamara and key grip Jac Hopkins, who took offense to the paparazzo photographing their starlet friends dining at a celebrity restaurant in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Reportedly, the pair pursued Orquera outside the restaurant and slammed him to the ground before attempting to break the paparazzo’s camera.
Orquera, who sustained many cuts and a broken arm during the attack, told an Argentine news site, TN, that he was able to secure his equipment and the priceless photographs he had taken, albeit at a high price.
‘I suffered a severe violence… The photojournalist claimed, “My life was saved by a miracle; I don’t know what would have happened if I had fallen face-first to the ground with the pace those people were pursuing me.”
When I plummeted to the ground, the camera was destroyed, but I was able to salvage the footage.
Following the act of hostility, authorities arrested MacNamara and Hopkins and brought them in for questioning, while Robbie and Delevingne escaped the scene.
Orquera, meantime, was placed in a neck brace and transported on a stretcher to the neighboring Argerich Hospital in the Argentine capital, where he is currently awaiting surgery for his severely fractured arm.
It is questionable whether he will regain full use of his wounded arm, as he reported to TN.
He stated, “I have a cast on my right arm, my arm is severely affected, and I’m not sure if I’m going to lose it.”
2016 San Diego Comic-Con image of Cara Delevingne (left) and Margot Robbie (right) at the Samsung Experience.
In April of last year, Josey MacNamara and Margot Robbie were photographed at the Oscars in Los Angeles.
During the incident, photographer Pedro Alberto Orquera suffered a broken arm and is currently awaiting surgery.
Margot Robbie was photographed in Argentina on September 30 – two days before the Orquera assault.
Sunday morning at approximately 3 a.m., the incident involving Orquera occurred as the A-list actresses were getting into a car outside the restaurant of Argentine famous chef Francis Mallmann.
The appearance of the photojournalist enraged MacNamara and Hopkins, who pursued him and eventually caught up to the fleeing paparazzo, throwing him off balance and causing him to fall to the ground.
The impact of the fall fractured his right arm and left him with many lacerations.
Orquera told The Sun, “I began running away from them because they were punching me.” While I was fleeing from them, they kicked me so hard that my camera flew into the air, I fell to the ground, and hurt my arm.
As soon as it became apparent that Orquera had incurred a gruesome injury, witnesses are believed to have called 911 when the altercation broke out.
In the meantime, police questioned the British filmmakers, after which they appeared in court at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office for causing “severe injuries.”
According to a police report seen by The Sun, MacNamara and Hopkins informed authorities that Orquera was “responsible for his own injuries” because they had not given permission to be photographed.
Robbie and Delevingne chose to leave the filmmakers behind and flew to the south of Argentina only hours after the tragedy.
Orquera intends to file a lawsuit against his assailants, stating that the injuries he got due to their aggression will prevent him from working.
Orquera stated, “The most regrettable aspect of the attack is that it has rendered me immobile, unable to work or move.”
I will no longer be able to work, and I do not know if I will be able to recover my arm to its normal state.
Robbie and Delevingne have been contacted by MailOnline for comment on the alleged incident.
Orquera was assaulted after he was observed photographing Robbie and Delevingne as they left the Patagonia Sur restaurant (above) early on Sunday morning.
Before the incident, it is believed that the actresses dined at the Patagonia Sur restaurant (shown) in Buenos Aires.
Margot Robbie was observed on the edge of tears as she left a West Hollywood residence in September, just hours after meeting Cara Delevingne. Following a string of absences from major events and odd behavior, rumors have circulated that Delevingne is facing health problems.
The actresses reportedly grew close in 2016 while working on the DC comic-inspired picture Suicide Squad, in which Robbie, 32, garnered prominence for her depiction of the seductive Harley Quinn and Delevingne portrayed the villain Enchantress.
The two had traveled to Argentina after attending fashion week events in Paris early last week, and Robbie was spotted taking selfies with fans in Argentina on Friday.
The attack on Orquera during the starlets’ visit in Argentina occurred less than a month after Robbie was photographed leaving the home of a close friend in West Hollywood, presumably in tears, amid rumors that British supermodel Delevingne was experiencing health issues.
Delevingne, 30, did not attend the premiere of her fashion line honoring late designer Karl Lagerfeld, which was held in early September at the posh restaurant Saga in New York City’s Financial District.
Nor was Delevingne there on September 13 at the Emmy Categories, when her co-stars from the television series Only Murders in the Building were nominated for a number of awards.
A source close to the Delevingne family told The Sun that the actress has been suffering and “burning the candle at both ends” recently.