But some of his admirers may forget that a man died in the robbery that made Biggs famous. Train driver Jack Mills was beaten to death by one of the robbers. Biggs has always insisted it was one of the three gang members who were never caught. Biggs is reported to be deep in debt. While he writes nostalgically of wanting to see England again, many think his main motivation is to get help from the National Health Service.
Medical care is expensive in Brazil.
In 1981, a group of British mercenaries kidnapped Biggs and took him to Barbados, but the government there refused to send him back to Britain, so he was allowed to return to Brazil. I hope I live long enough to be able to do that. The Guardian newspaper noted that the robbery was meticulously planned, and its success turned on detailed scheduling of trains.