A BRIT schoolboy was allegedly sexually assaulted while playing in a swimming pool on a luxury cruise around the Mediterranean.
Police have launched an investigation after the 15-year-old claimed he was attacked by a man in his 60s on the Seven Seas Explorer.
The boy had been enjoying a family holiday and was playing in a pool on board with his niece when the incident occurred, the Daily Mail reports.
The ten-deck cruiseliner was anchored off the coast of Dikili in southern Turkey at the time of the alleged sexual assault.
The terrified teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed a man put his arms around him and touched him intimately while asking his age.
He reportedly jumped out of the pool and informed his mother of what had happened before security were called.
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A passenger, who is understood not to be British, was said to have been confined to his cabin in wake of the alleged assault.
The man was then taken to a local police station on Sunday when the ship docked in Istanbul, while the teen also made a formal complaint.
The 15-year-old is also understood to have been examined by a local doctor.
His horrified mother said he has been left traumatised after the incident on the ten-day £20,000 cruise.
The businesswoman explained: “I’m just so shocked and my son is still extremely distressed by what happened.
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“He hasn’t eaten properly in three days and is very scared and wary now of adults and basically, he is just in pieces.
“He approached my son when he was in the pool and he was asking him his name and then his hands went under the water and they were all over my son.
“He was touching him sexually. My son is only 15 years old and was terrified by what was happening.
“You wouldn’t expect this sort of thing to happen on a luxury cruise in the Mediterranean.”
The Seven Seas Explorer had begun its voyage in Athens before making its way to Istanbul across the Mediterranean.
You wouldn’t expect this sort of thing to happen on a luxury cruise in the Mediterranean.
The family said they had contacted the British Consulate in Turkey for advice on the alleged sexual assault.
The teen’s mother claims the entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras where you can “clearly see” the man touching the boy.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British child following an incident in Turkey and are working with the local authorities.”
Regent Seven Seas Cruises said in a statement: “We are aware of a recent incident on board Seven Seas Explorer.
“The safety and security of our guests is paramount and we have provided support to the family but we are unable to comment further on an ongoing investigation.”
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Turkish police confirmed an investigation into the cruise ship incident is underway.
The man detained by police is understood to have strongly denied any wrongdoing.