A woman has issued a dire warning after she managed to escape a ‘deranged’ man who began chasing her while she was on the run.
Nikki Obispo, 28, was training for a marathon in Albert Park Lake, south of Melbourne’s CBD, last Thursday when she noticed the man staring at her as she ran past him.
Ms Obispo said he “did a complete 180 degree turn” to keep looking at her, which gave her the “most heartbreaking feeling.”
Despite breaking into an almost all-out sprint, she was unable to outrun the man gaining ground behind her.
Her fears increased as the sound of a rustling plastic bag wrapped around the man’s hand grew louder, with no indication of what was inside.
She managed to scare him off by turning abruptly and ‘yelling at him’ before quickly continuing her escape.
Ms Obispo had assumed that Melbourne and Australia were much safer for women and had let down her “vigilance” since moving from Britain two years ago.
Instead, she has become one of a growing number of women who have been intimidated by a stranger while running alone.
Melbourne woman Nikki Obispo (pictured) has revealed the shocking moment a ‘deranged’ man chased her through a popular park in Melbourne’s CBD
She said she felt “obligated” to share her story on TikTok so women can learn how to “protect ourselves when we’re out alone.”
“I can’t imagine what we can do at a time when you are really so vulnerable and defenseless,” Ms. Obispo said.
“But I know there are some things I can do as a precaution to limit the chance of this ever happening again.”
She credited her earphones, which do not completely cover her ears, as crucial for hearing the man and warning her to get away.
“I honestly think hearing him turn around and looking at him and yelling at him saved my life,” she said.
Ms. Obispo also suggested going for a run with a friend or partner or joining a running club, for safety in numbers, no matter how scenic their route.
“Even though the run I did was in a nice, well-lit space, there will still be parts of it that are just not lit and hidden,” she said.
‘Unfortunately that’s just the way it is. what happened to me.”
She added that her friend, who usually runs much faster, is now slowing down to stay by her side to ward off other confrontations.
Ms Obispo managed to scare the man off at Albert Park Lake (pictured) after ‘yelling’ at him, which she says probably ‘saved my life’
A number of social media users shared their own incidents while running and passed along tips they’ve learned to stay safe.
“Glad you’re doing well, but it’s so frustrating that us women don’t feel safe anywhere,” one user wrote.
“Why can’t they just leave us alone?”
“A similar thing happened to me a few months ago while training: I ran to St Kilda beach and was chased in broad daylight,” wrote a second.
A third said it’s “crap to have to constantly be aware that I can just feel it when I walk around my neighborhood, it’s not fair.”
Another suggested carrying a heat spray – used to relieve muscle tension – for protection, instead of pepper spray, the possession of which is illegal in Australia.