So a few months ago I was sexually assaulted while swimming in the sea with my two younger brothers, I was 17 at the time. We were on holiday in a warm, sunny country and taking full advantage of the friendly faces, handed ice cream, treats and delicious new food. I have never been comfortable with my body and have struggled with different ED at differnt times throughout my teens, I also have OCD and a skin picking disorder, so confidence has never come easy to me. Although this summer was different, this summer I had recently come into a new relationship, got amazing grades and finally lived in a place I was proud of sureounded by friends. So as you can imagine any 17 year old would, I felt pretty good about myself. I started to wear swimming costumes again, unfazed by my SH scars and patches or raw skin, after a few years of hiding behind baggy t-shirts and hoodies. Myself and my two brothers were playing around on a float that was grounded in the shallows of the sea, a few men came over probably in their 20s-30s and started to use this, pretty big, float too; it was fine there was enough room for all of us! Then they began to join in with our game (our parents were watching/around) , they helped us climb up, we bounced eachother and because they were ‘men’ they were able to throw the float around a but while we were onboard which was quite fun! They asked us a few harmless questions like ‘are you on holiday?’ ‘do you go to school?’ ‘are you from london?’; These seemed like normal questions, other friends from other places asked these all the time, there was no threat. Until, one of these grown men offered to help my youngest brother and myself up onto the float; he passed up my brother up to the top while I genuinely and politely refused his help, I was fine, I could get up alone! After a few goes he seemed to give up but then his friend joined in an convinced me to take the help, Fine! Now because I have clearly disassociated myself from this scene I find it hard to exactly explain what happened, and I’m always scared to say stuff like ‘I think’ because I know people will tell me that I’m making it up, but here I go. He put his hands everywhere on my body that would make any girl extremely uncomfortable. Its too hard to go into anymore detail and feel wrong to publish that online for anyone to read. “I think”... he wouldve gone a lot further if I had not quickly, but with difficulty, moved away. I was in shock. Numb to feeling, disgusted by everything. I felt sick and sad. I came out of the water full of shame, like it was my own fault. I told my step-mum, and later told my whole family. NOTHING WAS DONE, THE MAN IS LIVING HIS LIFE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE I DIDNT HAVE THE OPTION TO SPEAK UP. We were in a country that wouldnt have taken up the claim and the man was a stranger in a crowd. So to this day, this is my lonely story in a sea of ones simular. Girls go through this everyday and these monsters that prey, most likely get away with it.