AN author chronicling his journey round the world has fallen victim to a terrifying robbery in Argentina.

Adam Schofield, 29, from Little Lever, Bolton, believes he had his drink spiked before he was forced to withdraw cash from his account.

For three hours he thinks he was dragged around the city of Mendoza before police found him dazed and confused.

Former record distributor Adam was featured in the M.E.N. two years ago at the start of his `couch surfing' trip.

He plans to travel round the world and write about his experiences using an internet site that lets members sleep for free on each other's sofas.

After losing both parents in three years, he sold everything he owned, including a house, and took off for five years.

But his travels took a turn for the worse when he took up the offer of a drink from a stranger who claimed to be a Spanish tourist asking for directions.

He said: "We had three beers but the last thing I can remember was coming back from the toilet. My drink tasted funny and I got dizzy. The police found me three hours later.

"I'd been drugged, punched on the back of the head and my passport, CDs, photos, i-Pod and wallet had all gone.

"The wallet was found but it turns out I was taken to a cash point and made to take out $300. I can't remember any of it."

The robbery was the latest in a number of hiccups in Adam's bid to visit 200 countries - and he's still only made it to 16.

He broke his leg twice and had to have surgery in Ecuador and he nearly drowned rafting in Costa Rica.

But he insists that getting to know cultures off the tourist trail is worth the effort and has no plans to call off the trip.

He said: "It's been an amazing experience. Couch surfing is an awesome way to live like the locals and see the places not listed in the travel guides."

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