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British backpacker in Australia rescued after texting location to father | British backpacker in Australia rescued after texting location to father |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British backpacker who says she was held against her will during a car trip in Australia was rescued after texting her location to her father in England. | A British backpacker who says she was held against her will during a car trip in Australia was rescued after texting her location to her father in England. |
Mary Kate Heys, 20, had agreed to ride with a man from their hostel in south-east Queensland to Brisbane. | Mary Kate Heys, 20, had agreed to ride with a man from their hostel in south-east Queensland to Brisbane. |
But when he drove in the opposite direction and refused to allow her out, she told her father to call police. | But when he drove in the opposite direction and refused to allow her out, she told her father to call police. |
Police intercepted the pair at Gympie, 90km (55 miles) from the hostel, after her father contacted them. | Police intercepted the pair at Gympie, 90km (55 miles) from the hostel, after her father contacted them. |
'Freak out' | 'Freak out' |
Ms Heys, from Manchester, told local media the man woke her at 04:30 local time on Monday (18:30 GMT on Sunday) at the Mooloolaba hostel, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. | |
She told 7 News she agreed to go on a road trip to Brisbane with the 22-year-old man from Sweden but he headed in the direction of Cairns. | She told 7 News she agreed to go on a road trip to Brisbane with the 22-year-old man from Sweden but he headed in the direction of Cairns. |
"[That] is when I started to freak out... I knew it wasn't going to be a nice trip to Brisbane." | "[That] is when I started to freak out... I knew it wasn't going to be a nice trip to Brisbane." |
'Call Australian police' | 'Call Australian police' |
She said she was "so terrified", adding he had "psychotic eyes" and it was "like he'd lost it". | She said she was "so terrified", adding he had "psychotic eyes" and it was "like he'd lost it". |
"He was talking about him being an alien with such passion that I actually kind of believed him." | "He was talking about him being an alien with such passion that I actually kind of believed him." |
She texted her father in Manchester with her location as well as messages reading: "I need you to call Australian police" and "I've been taken by a man… please hurry". | She texted her father in Manchester with her location as well as messages reading: "I need you to call Australian police" and "I've been taken by a man… please hurry". |
Ms Heys said: "I literally thought he was going to kill us both... He was so erratic." | Ms Heys said: "I literally thought he was going to kill us both... He was so erratic." |
The 22-year-old driver, from Sweden, was arrested and taken to hospital for medical treatment. | The 22-year-old driver, from Sweden, was arrested and taken to hospital for medical treatment. |
He will not face charges as Ms Heys withdrew her complaint against him, police said. | He will not face charges as Ms Heys withdrew her complaint against him, police said. |
"I didn't want him to go to jail - I thought it was a bad place for him." | "I didn't want him to go to jail - I thought it was a bad place for him." |
She added he was being deported back to Sweden. |