American Tourist Had Date Rape Drug Slipped into Drink in Bermuda Bar … Tourists Beware

Female tourists beware. It can happen within seconds. It can happen when your head is turned for the briefest of moments. It can even happen if the bartender is the one who spikes your drink with a date rape drug. Thus was the case in Bermuda just recently when an American tourist was slipped a date rape drug in her drink. However, she lived to tell about it and was one of the fortunate few had more than just hazy memories and nothing to tell police.

A warning about the dangers of date rape drugs was issued last night as it emerged that a woman had a narrow escape after her drink was apparently spiked. The scare, which happened at the weekend, saw an American tourist rescued by friends who feared her drink had been laced at a Hamilton city bar. Despite only drinking half, she was left with no control over her body – and her limbs “felt like lead”. Penny Dill, executive director at the Women’s Resource Centre, yesterday urged women to be on their guard and warned – “It could happen again.” She added: “Watch your drink, do not accept drinks from people you don’t know. Even if you do know them, be extremely careful.” The tourist, in her 20s and now back in the US after visiting friends in Bermuda on vacation, had the lucky escape at about 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.

What prevented this situation from coming to its intended conclusion of rape? The American tourist was with friends who say her get bumped and became concerned. The MO sounds all too familiar. Separate a girl from the pack, shield her from friends, bump into her much like a pick pocket would have a set up man with them as an accomplice. These are not random acts, they are planned situations that are done all too often to tourists who have a false sense of security.

As the young tourist picked up the drink, she was bumped by another man on the other side of her.

Ms Dill said this was believed to be moment when the drug was slipped into the drink. Luckily, the tourist was with a friend who saw her get bumped then cornered by the two men. After having barely half the drink, her male friend asked if she had taken the drink from the suspect. Fearing it had been spiked, he took it from her and told her not to have any more. That may have saved her from serious harm.

In a warning email circulated across the Island yesterday, Ms Dill said that by the time the woman arrived home she had “no control over her muscles”. She added: “She could not walk or move her arms or even hold a phone to her ear. Her limbs felt like lead. “She was lucky because she had friends around to help her.”

What made this date rape attempt different from the rest that take place? The victim and friends saw a drink being spiked and doctors performed tests that indicated the victim had in fact been drugged.

A female friend had to help her to the bathroom, as she was unable to go without help, although the woman did not feel like vomiting. Some 12 hours after leaving the bar, the tourist went to hospital where a urine sample was taken. Doctors said she had the symptoms of date rape drug Rohypnol and sent the sample away for confirmation. Police were informed, Ms Dill added.

Several suspected drug rape cases have already been reported to the WRC. But Ms Dill said the weekend incident was the first time somebody seems to have seen a drink getting spiked, followed by doctors indicating that a victim had been drugged. “This is the first concrete example,” she said. “Other people have suspected. They have had a bit to drink and found themselves waking up in a strange situation and they don’t know how they got there.

(do not be a victim of date rape drugs … be vigilant … be aware)

We beg women when vacationing to please be careful and try and remember you are surrounded by people who may not have the best of intentions. Do the following words sound familiar to what happened to Natalee Holloway in Aruba? Just because someone appears to show the signs of being drunk, does not mean that they are.

Ms Dill called on women to watch their drinks and to have “buddy systems” when out with pals. “If your friend is drunk, stay with them,” she stated. “Do not let them be taken out of the door by somebody they do not know. “Women need to look out for each other because somebody might not just be drunk.”

Hat Tip: RR

Read the full article at The Royal Gazette