12 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE I looked an ISIS terrorist in the eye as he slaughtered Brits on a beach in Tunisia... 10 years on, here's how I'm coping with the bittersweet twist of fate that saw me cheat death
A survivor of the Tunisia terror attack has told of how she managed to cheat death with one very minor decision.
Alison Caine from Staffordshire was staying in the Riu Imperial Marhaba with her husband Baron in June 2015 when a bittersweet twist of fate changed her life forever.
On June 16, 2015, the tranquil seaside resort turned into a nightmare as an Islamic terrorist systemically gunned down innocent holidaymakers.
After just 21 minutes and 38 seconds, 38 people lay dead in a horrific killing spree that left the world reeling.
Alison, 52, was one of the few that managed to survive and has now shared her horrific experience to mark the tenth anniversary of the attack.
Alison and Baron had holidayed in Tunisia for ten years prior to the attack, and had stayed at the Imperial Marhaba four times previously.
The day of June 26 was the fifth of their holiday, and saw the couple have breakfast as usual before moving to the hotel sun loungers by the pool.
Alison told MailOnline: 'I had my headphones in listening to music, and Baron had his to watch a film. At around 11.30am I suggested we wander down to the beach bar for a drink and some lunch.
'I took my headphones off, and Baron gave me one of his ear buds, so we could watch the last few minutes of his film together.
'That decision saved our lives; if we'd had headphones in, we wouldn't have heard the gunshots further up the beach.'
At first, Alison said, they thought 'nothing of it'. The resort was a popular spot for weddings so there were often fireworks.
Soon, it was obvious something was wrong, and Alison recalled: 'But then we heard screaming, we saw people running, and Baron yelled: "Run as fast as you can back to the room and don't stop."'
'I set off running but there were people running the other way and I was going to be knocked over. I clung to a pillar, and, around the other side, I saw a man with a gun looking directly at me. I knew I had to get away.
'I ran with the crowd, there were people screaming and crying, and it was chaos. Luckily, we'd moved rooms because our air con was broken, and we went in a side door where it wasn't as busy.
'Halfway up the stairs, I froze, worried we were doing the wrong thing. But Baron was behind me and dragged me up the rest of the steps. We were in such a panic that I had to tip my bag out to find the key.
'Inside the room, Baron told me to stay in the bathroom whilst he moved the furniture to barricade us in. We could hear gunshots, grenades, and screaming.
'We had no idea what was happening. There was no answer from the hotel reception, and we were worried about making calls, in case someone overheard our voices. I thought of my parents, and all my family back home. Would I ever see them again?'
Alison recalled how she was still barricaded in her hotel room when a stranger began banging on the door and rattling the handle while she was inside, believing she was about to die.
She said: 'Then someone began banging on our door. A voice shouted: "I have your key, and I am coming in". I was petrified. But I was ready to fight for my life.
'It felt like hours but eventually, the man went away. We will never know who he was or what he wanted, but he wasn't friendly. I feel sure we were close to death in that moment.
'From the balcony, we saw military boats arriving on the shore and there was a military helicopter, so we knew help was coming.
'But we also saw so many bodies and injured people being carried into the hotel. We saw people die. It was devastating.'
Three and a half hours after the attack began, the couple went down to the hotel reception.
Alison said: 'We had to flatten ourselves against the wall and check every corner, every stairway. It was terrifying.'
Along with crowds of terrified holidaymakers, they were taken to the airport at around midnight and arrived back in Britain early the next day.
Alison said: 'I started having panic attacks on the journey back and I couldn't breathe. When we arrived home, I expected to feel relief, but I didn't feel safe. I couldn't even go upstairs on my own.
'Baron took me to A and E and I was referred to the Crisis Team, who looked after me at home for the next ten days.
'We had three days of interviews with counter-terrorism police and then, I had to somehow try to rebuild my life.
'But I was traumatised. I couldn't bear to be in crowds, even with people I knew. I didn't feel safe going out on my own, I couldn't go shopping or go to work.
'Gradually, Baron and I changed our routine, so we'd shop early in the morning, when it was quiet, or we'd book a restaurant early in the evening.
'But I had anxiety and panic, and it was very hard. I had survivor's guilt too; I could not stop thinking about all the people who had died or lost loved ones.
'Four years on, we booked a villa in Spain, away from the coast. But going on holiday had become a trauma for me, not a treat. Every day was hard.'
The couple had flown out to Tunisia in late June and immediately noticed the resort was much quieter than usual.
Alison says: 'Many of the shops and restaurants were closed, and the locals' beach, which was usually packed, was empty. The hotel seemed much quieter too; there were not as many staff and there were fewer activities. There was no water polo.
'It was a bit spooky, but we didn't think much of it. We just enjoyed our holiday.'
Recalling the moment she heard a knock at her door, she said: 'I thought I was going to die in that moment. Though I was terrified, I was overcome with a desire to fight – I wanted to stay alive.
'Even now, ten years on, I am not back to my old self, and I never will be. It took years for me to be able to go on holiday again and only last year, we stayed in a hotel on the beach for the first time.
'But in many ways the attack made me stronger and more compassionate towards others who might be going through their own trauma. It made me realise how precious life really is.'
Alison had years of counselling and then began a new job working as an RAF Resettlement and Education Co-ordinator, where a colleague suggested she might benefit from coaching.
She said: 'I found it really helpful. Instead of trying to move on and forget the attack, I accepted it would be with me always. I recognise the triggers and how to deal with them. I've learned many useful tools to deal with my PTSD.
'I've become stronger as a result, and kinder and more compassionate too. Traumatised people need support and understanding.
'Baron has been absolutely wonderful; I could not have got through this without him. Last year, we booked a beach hotel in Cyprus for the first time since Tunisia. I was a little anxious, but so proud of myself. It's another hurdle I've overcome.
'I hope other survivors of trauma will take hope from my story; you will feel better in time.'
THE 30 BRITONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE BEACH MASSACRE
In all, 30 Britons were killed in the Tunisian beach massacre, along with three Irish citizens.
One British tourist was shot dead in an earlier attack on the country's national museum.
They were:
British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was among 22 people killed as ISIS terrorists opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in the capital Tunis in March 2015
Joel Richards, 19, a student at the University of Worcester and a talented football referee, believed to be the youngest of the British victims in the Sousse attack in June 2015; his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands; and his grandfather Charles 'Patrick' Evans, 78
Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together for eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they 'adored' and stayed in every year of their relationship
Christopher Bell, 59, and his 54-year-old wife Sharon, from Leeds
John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire. He was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and son. He worked with children in care at Nottinghamshire County Council, and his wife said 'he made a difference and gave his best to others'
Retired scientist David Thompson, 80, from Tadley, Hampshire. It is understood he used to work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment and was a keen walker
Chris Dyer, 32, an engineer who practised jiu-jitsu, from Watford. He was on holiday with his wife Gina Van Dort when he was shot. She clung on to her dead husband's hand as paramedics tried to get her to safety, according to reports
Trudy Jones, 51, a divorced single mother-of-four from Gwent, South Wales. Described by her family as 'a caring person who put everyone else before herself', she had been holidaying with friends when she was killed
Bruce Wilkinson, 72, a grandfather who was said to be a retired power station worker from Goole, East Yorkshire. He was described by his family as a 'kind and compassionate man'
Lisa Burbidge, 66, a grandmother-of-four from Whickham, Gateshead. Her family said she doted on her grandchildren and described her as the 'most beautiful, amazing, caring and gentle person in our lives'
Carly Lovett, 24, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The fashion blogger, who was on holiday with her fiance Liam, reportedly survived the massacre on the beach only to die when a grenade was thrown into her hotel
Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, who lived in Blackpool. They had arrived at the resort two days before the attack. Mr Thwaites, a hospital porter, played for Birmingham City from 1962 to 1972 while his wife worked in hospitality
Philip Heathcote, 52, from Felixstowe, Suffolk. His wife Allison, 48, was seriously injured in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 30th anniversary when they were caught up in the atrocity
Engineer Stephen Mellor, 59, from Bodmin in Cornwall. He was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl on the beach
Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water, who described them as passionate and hugely caring
Claire Windass, 54, from Hull. She was killed while her husband Jim survived the attack
Jim and Ann McQuire, aged 66 and 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Mr McQuire was a captain in the Boys' Brigade, a Christian youth organisation, which said it was 'shocked and deeply saddened' by his death
Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft in Suffolk. He is believed to have died instantly. His wife was injured but survived
Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth in Scotland. The couple were on a trip to the tourist resort of Sousse to celebrate Mrs Graham's 50th birthday
Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife Janet, 63, from Morden, Surrey. Their family said the pair 'were the happiest, most loving couple'
Ray and Angela Fisher, believed to be aged 75 and 69, from Leicester. Their son Adam, from Redhill in Surrey, had not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday
The Irish victims were: Lorna Carty, a mother-of-two from Robinstown, Co Meath. Bishop of Meath Michael Smith said Mrs Carty was the victim of a 'senseless killing'
Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who had worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years.
