The mom says the operator rubbed against her and touched her during what should have been a fun parasailing ride over the skies of Tunisia
A British mom has accused a parasail operator of sexually assaulting her in mid-air, turning what should have been a thrilling moment into a horrifying experience.The 52-year-old woman, from Southport, had planned to go parasailing with a friend during their vacation in Tunisia.But because of strong winds, they were told they would each have to fly alone with an instructor instead of going up together.
She explained that her friend went first and had a great time, mentioning that there was plenty of space between her and the guide.But when it was her turn, things took a disturbing turn.The accusation comes not long after a tragic story where a famous soccer player drowned in front of his girlfriend while swimming on a romantic getaway.
The mother of three told The Sun: “I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled and he was pulling the strap. He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer. His legs straddled around me, he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn’t. Then I felt him touch my leg.”She continued: “He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic. I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back.”“I felt violated and dirty and was scared. He was only a young lad, maybe around 20. It was a horrible experience and I was really scared. I felt helpless hanging in the air.”
After landing, she broke down in tears and immediately reported the incident to the person in charge at the water sports center. From there, she went to the local police station to make a formal report.The $7,700 easyJet vacation package had been booked for her family, which included her 17-year-old daughter, her twin 16-year-old sons, and her daughter’s 17-year-old friend.She admitted that the incident completely ruined the rest of the trip for her. Speaking about how it impacted her, she added: “As women you expect a bit of banter from men in these countries, but this wasn’t banter, it was a sexual assault.”
She is under the impression that her alleged assailant has been apprehended, and both her insurance company and the Foreign Office are now handling the matter.An easyJet spokesperson commented: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers is a priority. We are also liaising closely with our hotel partner to look into the reports.”
