Two men have been charged after a group of women holidaying aboard a Murray River houseboat were left “terrified” after allegedly being attacked in a shocking incident.
The group of nine women have told police they were targeted by up to 15 aggressive men, who allegedly invaded their houseboat on the Victoria-NSW border on Saturday afternoon.
One of the women, who gave her name only as Kate, said she and eight friends were on a Moama on Murray houseboat about 6pm on Saturday when the men pulled a pontoon boat alongside and asked if they could join them. When they were refused, the men allegedly invaded the women’s boat.
“A few hours later, we just heard this big thump. We were on the top floor and we looked down and they’d actually climbed on board the boat,” Kate claimed to Melbourne’s 3AW radio said.
She said she and her friends were “isolated” with no staff and nowhere to flee.
“We were terrified. We asked them to get off. They started urinating on our stuff. They were banging on the windows trying to get in,” Kate said.
“They kept coming back, they drove into the boat.
“We tried to lock ourselves upstairs so they couldn’t get up – and we’re just really thankful that they didn’t.
“They were flashing their genitals too … it was really alarming.”
Kate said the women – including some who were pregnant – were incredibly “rattled” after the alleged incident.
“It was absolutely terrifying, we were all scared for our safety,” she said.
NSW Police said on Tuesday the men’s pontoon boat was allegedly driven into the houseboat several times, before the group eventually left.
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Footage captured some of the horrifying attack
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They said later on Tuesday they had charged two men with intimidation. The men, aged 26 and 28, were spoken to in Victoria on Tuesday and will appear in Moama Local Court on Thursday, May 11.
Earlier, the women on board the houseboat said they called Moama on Murray Houseboats operator Damien. Nunan for help. He said he had also called police.
“I also contacted police, which I have never felt the need to do previously,” he said.
There were multiple reports the group of men are believed to be tourists holidaying in the Murray River region.
Anyone with information – including those with footage of the incident – is urged to contact Moama police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
