A dream holiday to Turkey turned into a terrifying ordeal for a British grandmother, who found herself arrested and locked in a police cell after the devastating discovery that her passport was missing.
Susan Wilson, 66, from County Durham, was enjoying a break in the popular resort of Icmeler when her world was turned upside down. Upon preparing to check out of her hotel, she made the gut-wrenching realisation that her vital travel document was gone.
What followed was a bureaucratic nightmare that no traveller could ever anticipate. Instead of receiving consular assistance, Susan was taken to a local police station. There, she was formally arrested, fingerprinted, and subjected to a DNA swab—procedures typically reserved for criminals.
The most harrowing part of the experience? Being forced into a cramped, concrete police cell. "It was disgusting," Susan recounted. "There was just a concrete plinth with a very thin mattress. It was filthy. I was absolutely terrified."
Her arrest meant she was unable to board her pre-paid flight back to the UK with Jet2.com, compounding her financial loss and emotional distress. Her family back in the UK faced a frantic race against time, desperately liaising with the Foreign Office to secure her release.
This shocking incident serves as a stark warning to all travellers about the severe consequences of losing documentation abroad, even in popular tourist destinations. It underscores the critical importance of:
- Keeping your passport in a safe and secure location at all times.
- Having digital copies and photos of your passport stored separately.
- Knowing the contact details for the British embassy or consulate.
- Understanding that local laws and procedures can be vastly different from those in the UK.
After a prolonged and frightening struggle, Susan was eventually released and provided with emergency documentation, allowing her to return home. Her story is a powerful reminder of how quickly a holiday can descend into chaos and the absolute necessity of being prepared for the worst.
