Backpacker breaks back fleeing Thai sex attacker
A female backpacker broke her back when she fell 150 feet off a cliff trying to escape from a sex attacker in Thailand.
American Hannah Gavios, aged 23, got lost in the dark on Railay Beach in the resort of Krabi and went into a tourist shop to ask for directions back to her hotel.
A local offered to guide Ms Gavios, but instead he led her up a hill into the jungle where he tried to attack her.
She managed to escape by almost biting off his ear, according to newspaper reports, but she stumbled in the dark and fell off the cliff, smashing her head and fracturing her spine.
The man followed and molested her as she lay injured, before later returning with help.
Apai Ruengvorn, aged 28, has admitted the attack last Thursday and has been charged with committing obscene behaviour towards another person and causing serious injury.
MsGavios is now being treated at Bangkok Hospital in Phuket.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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