An Australian traveler has recounted a harrowing experience in Italy where she was allegedly kidnapped twice in a single day by two different men. The 36-year-old executive from Melbourne, identified only as Stephanie, was visiting the country in October, staying on after her friends departed.
Stephanie, who shares DIY home renovation videos on social media, had expressed interest in Italy's one-euro house programs and the kiteboarding opportunities in Lo Stagnone, near Marsala in Sicily. While in Sicily, she attended a meet-up with fellow kiteboarders. The situation took a dangerous turn when she accepted a ride from an expat in the group.
According to her account, the man drove away from the gathering at high speed, ignoring her pleas to stop. After driving approximately 12 kilometers (7 miles) into a gated compound, Stephanie noticed the car door was unlocked and decided to flee. She ran for several kilometers before finding a place to hide and ensure she was not being followed.
She eventually encountered a security guard, whom she informed of the incident using a translation app on her phone. The guard offered her a ride back to her accommodation. However, this second act of assistance quickly became another alarming event when the guard pulled over into an alleyway and used her phone to type a message asking what she would do for him in return for driving her home. Stephanie again seized an opportunity, running into a vineyard.
She then proceeded to walk towards her hotel, taking precautions by hiding from approaching headlights and purchasing drinks from vending machines to create a traceable record of her movements. Upon reaching her accommodation, she spent the following day crying before reconnecting with the kiteboarding community, who were reportedly distressed by her ordeal.
Stephanie emphasized that the incidents were not representative of Italians, noting that the first man was a European expat. She also drew parallels to safety concerns in her home country, Australia, citing domestic violence rates and the number of women being killed there. The experience has put her aspirations of buying a house in Italy on hold, and she stated she would not return to work on a project there without accompaniment.