A British tourist was charged by a prosecutor in Iraklion, Crete, with attempted murder yesterday as his girlfriend fought for her life in a hospital after allegedly being pushed from a balcony and landing on an iron railing spike.

The unnamed 40-year-old allegedly shoved his 34-year-old girlfriend from the first floor balcony of their hotel room in the popular resort of Malia at around 1.45 a.m. after the pair had an argument.

The woman suffered a punctured lung after landing on the spike and was rushed to the hospital in Iraklion for surgery. Doctors said that she remained in a critical condition in intensive care last night.

Sources said the railing passed through her chest and stopped just short of piercing her heart. Firefighters had to cut the women loose so she could be treated.

Authorities said the couple had been on holiday in Crete with the man’s 5-year-old son from a previous marriage.