Advertisement

Woman offered massage and manicure after being raped on holiday

A British doctor has opened up about a traumatic holiday to the Caribbean, where she claims she was raped in the bedroom of a villa.

Georgina Mortimer was reportedly offered a massage and a manicure following the alleged attack during a women-only sailing holiday and is now taking legal action against the owner of the villa and the holiday company, according to The Sun.

The 45-year-old told the publication she was terrified and thought she was going to die.

"I woke up to find myself being strangled and raped by this total stranger," Dr Mortimer said.

She reportedly booked the sailing break with the company Girls for Sails and was staying at a villa in Rodney Bay, St Lucia, in February, when the alleged attack occurred.

View out to sea from Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay. Source: Getty Images
View out to sea from Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay. Source: Getty Images

"I am shocked by a company, which claims to empower women by helping them learn to sail without men, has treated a rape victim so badly.

"To be offered a massage and manicure is disgusting."

The mother of two claims she was sharing a villa with two instructors and did not have a bedroom door key but understood that each night the front door would be locked.

She said thought she was going to be murdered when she allegedly woke to find someone pinning her down.

"I thought of my children and was determined not to die," she told The Sun.

"The hand on my throat pressed down so hard I thought I was going to pass out.

"I could hardly breathe let alone scream."

She says the event has turned her life upside down.

"I have horrendous flashbacks and feel traumatised," she told The Sun.

"I’d gone on a women only holiday to learn to sail believing I would be safe."

Dr Mortimer claimed the attacker fled when someone knocked at the door about 15 minutes into the ordeal.

The founder of Girls For Sail, Annie O’Sullivan, who according to The Sun also owns the villa, reportedly said: “We have been a TripAdvisor recommended 4.5 star villa since 2012 and strenuously dispute the claims made.”

According to The Sun, Dr Mortimer claims the company told her not to tell women arriving alone about the ordeal.

"Girls for Sail even advised me not to tell other women arriving alone what had happened in case it upset them," Dr Mortimer said.

"There was no sign of a break in, it appears he walked straight into the villa but I was made to feel as though I’d done something wrong."

Dr Mortimer reportedly says she was not warned to take extra care during her trip despite almost 60 reported rapes on the island in 2015.

"They should have at least had self locking doors and told us to be vigilant.”

According to The Sun, Dr Mortimer's solicitors said: "Tour operators, hotel owners and others in the holiday business have a duty of care to protect their customers. Regulations, which include the Package Travel Regulations 1992, are in place to ensure consumers are protected and safe”.

Dr Mortimer had reportedly sent complaint letters to the company and claimed that upon complaining again was sent the email in which they said they had paid for the beauty treatments.

"I complained again. This time I got an email saying they had paid for me to have a massage and manicure at my local beauty salon."