Brave Brit describes horror attempted rape in holiday hotspot after attacker set grim trap…but £400 WATCH saved her
A BRIT record-breaking runner has shared her horrifying ordeal after a man tried to rape her in a “premeditated attack” as she trained in the Algarve.
Brave Alison Walker relived the terrifying moment the stranger ambushed her and tried to take her shorts off after pushing her to the ground in the holiday hotspot.
The ordeal took place on Tuesday morning as the 36-year-old ran a route between Albufeira and Vilamoura, Portugal.
The ultra-trail runner, who recently relocated to Heptonstall, West Yorks, from London, describes how the attacker ran out from nearby bushes before pushing her to the ground.
In a desperate bid to stop the suspect, she offered up her valuables but her Garmin watch had set off a "crash alert" during the struggle.
The device is designed to alert close contacts in the event of an emergency.
read more on the Algarve
Quick thinking Alison told the attacker the alert was a panic call to the police causing him to flee the scene while also stealing her watch.
The runner says she spotted a piece of tarpaulin and a water bottle nearby, leading her to believe the attack was planned.
The tax specialist said in an Instagram post: “Today when I was doing my session around the honey farm loop, on my second rep some guy ran out of the bushes then grabbed me and pushed me to the ground.
“He then started to try and take my shorts off. I offered all my valuables and he wasn’t interested.
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“Thankfully my Garmin “crash alert” was activated when I got flung to the ground, I thought I’d just lie and say that’s the alarm to call the police.
"He then took my watch and fled. So yes, £400 down.”
After the attack, Alison was helped by two friends who happened to be nearby and called the police.
As well as the GNR police force, Portugal’s PJ force was also alerted and a sniffer dog mobilised.
It is not clear if Portuguese cops have made any arrests.
Alison added: “Me bawling my eyes out unable to see as the attack was forceful and my contact lenses fell out.
“I have never felt unsafe on a run before and we’ve run in some dodgy places.
"Honestly thank god for my Garmin, well, RIP Garmin, it’s now with a rapist!
“It was pre-meditated as the rape scene had a piece of tarpaulin on the ground and a bottle of water.
"Thank God for all my weight training and being able to push him away at the right time. God so f*****g stressful."
The brave runner shared the post in the hopes of warning other joggers in the area and revealed her horrifying injuries on Instagram.
She wrote: “So if you know anyone who is around the Algarve on a running trip, please please PLEASE tell them not to run around the honey farm loop on their own. PLEASE.
“The GNR police were absolutely ace though, could not have faulted them.
"They were so quick and there were about 4-5 cars and vans and a cute dog to find the culprit. He’s still out and about so…
“...thankfully I got away with just a few scratches on my face and arms and legs and one Garminuk down.”
She branded her sick attacker a p***k and scum in a subsequent post, saying: “Running for me has been an outlet, and I bloody love running.
"To almost have that taken away is unthinkable.
“To be honest, in those five or so minutes of ordeal, I thought I might not make it.
"All I thought in my head was, I f*****g worked so hard in my life to get where I am (work, life, lovely home and running, husband and friends) and I don’t want this p***k to ruin my life.
"I’ve always had to fight to get to where I am and whilst I may look like I’ve got it all, trust me, every single step of my life has been a battle."
She described having to work long hours to support her family back home in Malaysia after her father suffered a stroke.
She added: “And I also didn’t want to catch whatever this scum has in his f*****g body, and literally fought with every inch of strength in my head and body.”
Alison has told in past interviews how she started running after moving to the UK for university.
She took up ultra-running after suffering a severe ankle ligament break in 2018 and reading a book about the demanding sport which had been recommended to her by her physio.
Alison holds the record solo time for a 300km route visiting the highest points in all 32 boroughs of London,
And has revealed that she previously ran around 100 miles a week.
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She started doing ultras in 2019 and came second in her first 100-miler.
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