A British mother-of-three has spoken out about being sexually assaulted whilst parasailing during a family holiday in Tunisia, raising serious questions about tourist safety and oversight of water sports operators at the popular Mediterranean resort.
Michelle Wilson, 52, from Southport, Merseyside, claims she was groped and pressed against by a young male instructor whilst suspended hundreds of feet in the air during what should have been an exhilarating experience at a beach in Sousse.
The landscape gardener told The Sun she “felt violated and dirty” after the incident, which occurred during a £6,000 easyJet package holiday with her 17-year-old daughter, 16-year-old twin sons, and her daughter’s friend.
Weather Conditions Force Solo Flight
Ms Wilson had initially planned to parasail alongside a friend, but staff at the water sports centre told them windy conditions meant they would need to go separately, each accompanied by an operator.
Her friend went first and “had a great time with no problems,” Ms Wilson said. She observed there was visible distance between her friend’s body and the operator during that flight.
However, when it came to her turn, Ms Wilson claims the experience turned sinister almost immediately after take-off.
Alleged Assault in the Air
Once airborne, Ms Wilson said she felt the instructor, whom she estimated to be around 20 years old, begin pulling at her bikini bottoms and harness straps.
I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled and he was pulling the strap,” she told The Sun. “He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer.”
The mother described how the operator’s “legs straddled around me, he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn’t. Then I felt him touch my leg.”
Ms Wilson said the young man was “groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic” throughout the ordeal. “I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back. I felt violated and dirty and was scared.”
Immediate Aftermath and Police Report
Upon landing, Ms Wilson burst into tears and immediately complained to the water sports centre’s manager before filing a report with local police in Sousse.
“I felt helpless hanging in the air,” she said, describing the experience as “horrible.”
The distraught mother contacted her travel insurer and the UK Foreign Office for assistance. She believes the operator has since been arrested, though Tunisian authorities have not issued formal confirmation of any arrest or charges.
Foreign Office and EasyJet Response
The UK Foreign Office confirmed that consular support is being provided to Ms Wilson and that they are in contact with local officials regarding the incident.
EasyJet, through which Ms Wilson booked her holiday, told The Sun: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers is a priority, and we are continuing to support Ms Wilson. We are also liaising closely with our hotel partner to look into the reports.”
Wider Safety Concerns
Reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault statistically increase in the summer months in Tunisia, according to UK government travel advice. Reports include trouble in busy public places at night and quieter public parks and beaches during the daytime.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about tourist safety in Tunisia, particularly for women travellers. harassment of women travelers tends to occur in the country, with some attributing this to cultural factors and misconceptions about Western women.
A 2022 study published in BMC Women’s Health examining sexual assault cases in the Kairouan region of Tunisia found that the majority of the females were not married, unemployed with low socio-economic levels amongst victims, though the research focused on local women rather than tourists.
Tunisia’s Tourism Recovery
Tunisia’s tourism industry has been working to recover since devastating terrorist attacks in 2015 that specifically targeted tourists, including incidents at the Bardo Museum in Tunis and beach resorts in Sousse that killed dozens of holidaymakers.
The country has since strengthened security measures at tourist sites and resorts. The majority of university hospitals in Tunisia have facilities for helping victims of sexual assault, with victims usually assigned a psychologist initially to discuss next steps.
Legal Context
Under Tunisian law, sexual assault is a serious crime. In 2017, Tunisia passed comprehensive legislation criminalising all violence against women, including marital rape, and requiring police to refer victims to medical facilities for treatment.
However, reporting such incidents can be complex for tourists. You will not be able to have a forensic examination unless you have reported the incident to the police, according to UK government guidance for British nationals in Tunisia.
Call for Action
Ms Wilson said she hoped speaking publicly would raise awareness and ensure action is taken by both local authorities and travel providers to prevent similar incidents.
“As women you expect a bit of banter from men in these countries, but this wasn’t banter, it was a sexual assault,” she told The Sun.
The incident serves as a stark reminder for holidaymakers to research safety protocols and operator credentials before participating in water sports activities abroad, and highlights the vulnerability tourists can face when isolated with unknown operators.
Ms Wilson’s ordeal has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a relaxing summer getaway before her children returned to school, with the mother saying the experience has left her shaken and ruined the remainder of her holiday.
The investigation into the alleged assault remains ongoing, with Tunisian police yet to make any public statement regarding the case.
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