Model 'arrested in Dubai after breaking spine as she jumped from sixth-floor hotel room escaping man trying to rape her'
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A Russian model is "in custody" in Dubai after she jumped from the sixth floor of a hotel room to flee a man who was trying to rape and kill her, it was claimed.
Ekaterina Stetsyuk, 22, broke her spine when she miraculously survived the fall which happened after she refused to have sex with a "foreign man", she told friends.
Her mother claimed the model was threatened with a knife at her throat by an American businessman.
But her alleged attacker has made a counter claim against her, telling police in the emirate city that she attacked him and he was defending himself.
Ms Stetsyuk is "in custody" in her hospital bed - where she released a video to reassure her family - after suffering several crushed vertebrae, according to a friend.
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: Anna Liesowska/The Siberian Times)
Friend Irina Grossman said: “To save her life and dignity, she jumped from the sixth floor. She survived by a miracle.
“Her spine is broken, several vertebras [sic] were crushed.
“She cannot walk or move by herself, but doctors are giving good forecasts because her spinal chord is intact.”
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: The Siberian Times)
Ms Stetsyuk, from Irkutsk in eastern Siberia, was told her alleged attacker was detained at the airport as he tried to flee Dubai. He faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
But during interrogation he made allegations against the model which led also to her being detained in her hospital bed.
A report by Russian channel NTV claimed Ms Stetsyuk, also known as Katya, was followed by a "rich foreigner", but she refused to be with him and he got angry and attacked her.
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: The Siberian Times)
Her mother, Inge, along with Ms Grossman is raising money to cover initial £11,000 medical costs in Dubai. The model faces “expensive surgery and further rehabilitation”.
The mother hit back at claims in Russia that her glamorous daughter had been working as an escort in the sex industry when the incident occurred.
She said: “My daughter is a well known model in Irkutsk. On 15 February she left for Dubai for a month where she had a contract.”
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: Anna Liesowska/The Siberian Times)
She added: “The attack took place on 3 March. A man, a foreigner, attacked Katya, grabbed her neck and put a knife at her throat.
“My daughter tried to save her life, she had to jump from the sixth floor.
“She has serious injuries, she can’t walk.
“And yesterday Katya called and said she would be taken to jail. They want to make her guilty.”
(Image: The Siberian Times)
(Image: The Siberian Times)
The mother said the claims could “cause her more trouble”.
She added: “What happened there – all my information is only from speaking to my daughter. The laws are different there, we are worried about the development of this situation.”
She also said: “We were not speaking about what happened to Katya because we hoped that our consulate would help.
“They asked us not to talk to media, but now I do not know whom I can trust."
(Image: The Siberian Times)
The mother plans to fly to Dubai soon to be by her injured daughter's side.
Speaking from her hospital bed, Ms Stetsyukrecorded a video to reassure her mother, saying: “I am doing well, do not worry about me. People from the (Russian) consulate visited.
“My surgery was postponed. We’ll see how it goes.
“All will be fine, do not worry. (Friend’s name) has come to see me, all ok.
“All is fine mummy, I love you. Kisses. I have got everything."
Gocha Buachidze, the Russian Counsel in Dubai, said: “We are thoroughly studying the situation around Russian citizen Ekaterina Stetsyuk and we are providing all necessary support to her.
“The investigation is in progress. The Consulate cannot give any more details of the accident due to the request of the citizen herself.”