Girl who stripped naked was not under influence of drugs or alcohol, tests find
The Italian girl who stripped naked outside the Sta Venera tunnels was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol according to test results, sources said.
The 25-year-old’s behaviour, which surprised those closest to her, may have been caused by a medical condition. But she is still under observation at Mater Dei Hospital’s neurological ward where tests are being carried out.
Her parents arrived on the island yesterday to be with their daughter, who came to Malta last week to learn English with a childhood friend.
Sources said the young woman was under stress, having recently lost her job and had not slept for about three days. She started acting “strangely” in class on Tuesday morning.
“She was aggressive with others... I noticed there was something wrong. She was looking at me in a strange way and was not even blinking at times,” classroom sources said. On Tuesday evening she went out with her friend but ran away from him at about midnight. On Wednesday morning she was spotted walking on the dotted white line outside the Sta Venera tunnels at about 8.40.
Police officers who were passing by stopped to help her but she resisted and tried to run away. She then took off all her clothes and ran towards the traffic heading in the direction of the University.
As officers tried to stop her, she became aggressive and started shouting for help in Italian: “ Aiuto, Aiuto”. “She was in a state of confusion and said she was seeing things that were not there,” police sources said.
She then collapsed on the pavement and the police officers tried to help her up but did not manage. They picked her clothes up and asked passing cars if they had anything to cover the woman with. A woman stopped, offering a sheet which was used to cover the naked woman.
Eventually, a police mobile car drew up and she was helped in it and taken to hospital.
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r .vassallo
Aug 29th 2010, 15:36
Thanks for all the compliments posted to us police in question,we are here so serve and protect mankind and that makes us proud.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 28th 2010, 10:21
Thanks Marianna Galea Xuereb.
Some oh-so-macho-hetero-males here would have given anything to witness this sad public. They have hairline cracks eating them up inside, and potentially......
This has an interesting parallel. Mi spiego (I'll explain).
In the play Stitching, much was made of the narrative by the male protagonist of when he was a boy and had fantasies over naked women on their way to their death in Buchenwald. He, being only twelve, only saw the exciting nudity. The oh-so-macho-hetero-males here are behaving in exactly the same manner. Seeking instant gratification and bugger anything else. Except of course, they're not twelve but fully 'grown' - like not!
So, Stitching could be instructive for the intelligent spectator. And machos could do worse than look at a little porno to take the edge of their anguished prurience (loosely, that means curiosity mr.macho, usually healthy, but in your case, a bit sick). Now keep your mind on the traffic and stop hoping for a repeat performance. It could cost you your life. And others'. I rest my case.
Joe Xuereb
Aug 28th 2010, 01:21
Any psychiatrist/or psychiatric nurse at Mount Carmel will recognise this event in this young woman's life as a mental breakdown, pure and simple. The person could have thought processes that are damaging to his/her mental health. But they are unaware that anything is wrong. They suffer stress but appear to be coping with life. It only takes an abandonment (boyfriend/girlfriend split, marital separation, death in the family) and all the hairline cracks that had been going on over goodness knows how long, suddenly they become wide gaping gaps. Suddenly the coping is too much and they break down. It is a cry for help that needs urgent medical care. Nervous breakdowns happen all the time. Ask the Psych. doc. It is a very fine line between sanity, coping strategies and total breakdown. It could happen to anyone, at any time. But there are telltale signs. The cracking-up inside because of bad emotional investments that feel secure but don't deliver, or are suddenly taken away from us, these are the things to watch out for.
Sadly, mental breakdown is misunderstood and carries much stigma. Some people even think it funny. Until it happens to them. Classic 'pull yourself together' doesn't work.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Aug 27th 2010, 22:53
@m.cassar
Would our ‘sainlty’ comments been the same if the sneaker was a male and not a female?
My comments would have been exactly the same except – perhaps - for expressions of admiration if I happened to be walking by or driving past and the guy in question happened to be what I consider to be good looking. At 50 I am finally old enough not to be unduly shocked by something like this. I would be more concerned about the traffic jams and the potential for distracting drivers and thus unwittingly causing an accident.
m.cassar
Aug 27th 2010, 18:13
Would our ‘sainlty’ comments been the same if the sneaker was a male and not a female?
Joseph MELI
Aug 27th 2010, 16:40
Yes, I too do agree about the Police prompt action in stopping vehicles asking for something so as to cover her. This reminds me that to do something that you had never done, you have to have something that you had never did and the mind of ours is one day stable and upset or fluctuating properly the next day.
So when God takes something from your grasp, you might feel of being punished, but this young Italian girl had merely opened her hands or took off her dress when she received the love of the Maltese human heart so as to cover her body.
That's the love of the Maltese which is still burning.'The goodness and will of God will never take you away from someone that could have cared for you at that precious moment in which the Grace of God came at the right time to protect....her.
I do believe that someone might have taken a photo with the many mobile photo systems. My appeal is do remove or destruct the photo now and do not use it elsewhere, because we all humans and we would all objurgate you for your bad....action.
DR EMM.BEZZINA,LL.D.,MAG.JUR.,
Aug 27th 2010, 16:01
Nakedness apart,the incidence where many-an-incident is being provoked or caused,with accidents ensuing,are certainly on a fast track in our country.This country has already an official report pending that MALTA has proportionately a high number of Cases classified as DEPRESSION Cases of varying degrees.Though a foreigner not resident here was involved,the fact remains that many-an-odd behaviour is resulting by individuals who most certainly are under the influence of some substance.Evil creatures roam about in known localities seeking these psychologically weak victims:last Friday / Saturday night a 34-year-old woman driving a third party`s new motor vehicle smashed it at about 1am next to a well-known locality at SWIEQI.The Police Report merely stated that `she lost control of the car``without any further action being taken,without this woman being taken for a Hospital examination to determine whether she had taken or was given any substance that led to this car being smashed.Only days before,this same woman almost killed her Mum and her young son - yet she is still out on the roads.Must we await some fatality before we bring in the Media and ``appear`` to be taking some concrete steps.DRUGS are engulfing us even though there is a denial!
J Brincat
Aug 27th 2010, 15:58
I hope tha the girl makes a speedy recovery. Why is everyone commending the police so much for this?!? What did they do that was particularly impressive? They picked up a troubled girl from the middle of the road but the amount of praise everyone is heaping on them you would think that they have a very bad reputation and for once they have acted in the right way!
Well done for doing what they are supposed to do in that case!
Before people start jumping on board talking about God, insensitivity, condemnation, accusations, judgement and the peculiar "Holier Than Thou" reaction that most of the commentators have displayed in the below posts I really wish this girl a speedy recovery and all the best for a long and settled life in the future!
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Aug 27th 2010, 14:01
@ganni ellul
Agree with you 100%. Give credit to the police (or anyone else for that matter) where credit is due.
@Paul Barrett
".. read or heard somewhere that drug abuse of some types of drugs can cause "flashbacks" and or "hallucinations" years after you have stopped using them and they therefore would not show up on any tests for current drug use."
This is true but flashbacks and hallucinations can also be caused by certain totally legal prescribed medicines. Medicine is not a precise science and different people react differently to anything from totally healthy and nutritious food (eg. nuts, wheat, dairy products and shellfish) to the most sophisticated modern or even traditional, tried and tested medicines. So God help us all!
Paul Barrett
Aug 27th 2010, 15:48
@ Marianna Galea Xuereb
You are very right in everything you have said - my comment was perhaps a little harsh but I did not actually say that this was the case in this particular incident, only that I had heard or read that it was possibly to have the same or similar type of reaction a long time after having taken some types of drugs and that tests could well not show any trace of the drug, months or years later. In fact a quick Google does actually mention this possibility, even for a one time user of some drugs.
M. Camilleri
Aug 27th 2010, 13:29
I do not condemn this poor girl. She needs help. Min jaf li kieku kienet wahda mit-tfal taghna. X'konna nghidu?
Prosit lil pulizija li tawha l-ghajnuna u lil dik il-mara li silfet il-lizar. Is-Samaritana t-Tajba.
john buhagiar
Aug 27th 2010, 13:12
tajjeb il-pulizija
Malcolm Felix
Aug 27th 2010, 12:49
At last, everyone seems to agree on this news! No arguing in the comments below, and all comments makes sense! Well done!
Good Luck to the Girl, and Well done to the police :)
Neil Dent
Aug 27th 2010, 12:41
To all those who blindly condemned this poor girl when the story initially broke on Wednesday morning - I hope you are reading this. If ANYTHING, maybe it will teach you to curtail your urge to accuse and preach without even the basic facts surrounding the situation.
Good luck to her - thankfully she is in the company of her family.
ganni ellul
Aug 27th 2010, 10:40
Apart from the praise we should give to the police and the compassion shown for the younge girl, we should also praise and commend the officers in the strange situation for bringing the situation under control and also for thinking of the girl's decency even to the point of asking the public for help, something not a lot of officers are ready to do, well done again boys keep it up ,
Nick Falzon
Aug 27th 2010, 10:52
Absolutely agree with you.
For once, the police got it right and helped this poor soul with care and compassion.
i.borg
Aug 27th 2010, 12:59
@ Nick Falzon - I think 'for once' is an understatement!
Rachel Tua
Aug 27th 2010, 09:39
Such unusual behaviour immediately indicated that the girl needed help. Well done to the police force for handling the situation in such a professional manner
P Attard
Aug 27th 2010, 09:29
What happened to the girl could have a medical explanation, including the negative impact of certain medicines (not abusive drugs at all). Let the girl receive the best possible treatment we can give her in Malta. What she passed through could be a lifelong trauma to her and her family, particularly if she reads the details about her incident in all our newspapers. Let's respect her privacy now. Just imagine she is your daughter or your sister or close friend.
Carmel Garcia
Aug 27th 2010, 10:22
Well said Mr Attard. Who are we to judge? And that's what I think always when I hear of somethings about others. I have five kids, what if something happen to them. So I wow'nt jidge. May God be with her.
gcForte
Aug 27th 2010, 09:28
Let us give the unfortunate girl all the help that she needs.Do not accuse her of anything.After she will be o.k.send her home, with a big smile.
JOHN O SCERRI
Aug 27th 2010, 09:23
A probable culmination of negative events might have led this young lady to a hopefully slight nervous breakdown.
May she recover soon and most of all may she always have someone who will be close to her during this time of uncertainty. Her family is here which is a very good sign . She needs all the support she can get.
eric psaila
Aug 27th 2010, 09:06
What sort of society are we living in?
This is only the tip of the iceberg. This young lady should be seen as the messenger for many young people who are facing the same situation worldwide albeit in silence. How many suicides are happening which we do not even hear about. These exist. It is no fantasy.
What is bringing this about? Is it broken families? Is it corporate greed perhaps? Are we demanding too much of our labour force? We are constantly harping about productivity but at what cost?
How many companies are compassionate with those people who are going through a depression?
You will be told to keep your domestic problems at home.
These people could be very difficult at the place of work. They would need counselling and a lot of help. Is today's modern society gearing up for the new challenges we are facing? We had better think about it before it is too late. It is for the benefit of everybody.
G. Mangion
Aug 27th 2010, 10:02
We all need God and his Son Jesus Christ so badly. We seem to lack nothing, we have so many things but none can fill the void there is within our hearts. Only God can. Let's turn to Him and all these mantifestations of the Evil one will disappear.
Peppi Micallef
Aug 27th 2010, 14:20
Well said, even what you said G.Mangion.
Eric Camilleri
Aug 27th 2010, 09:05
I hope she is given all the support she can get. Her state of confusion could have ended suicidal and it is clear she needs all the genuine and professional help she can get to overcome this ugly phase in her life. Compliments to the Police Officers involved who treated her with dignity and professionalism. Life is hard, cruel and difficult and it is so rewarding when a person in dire need can be helped by a well meaning stranger.
B.Attard
Aug 27th 2010, 09:03
She needs help not being laughed at.
JOe VELLa
Aug 27th 2010, 08:59
Another job well done for the police. Thanks
J Simpson
Aug 27th 2010, 08:52
don't think this is caused by stress only! Poor girl, hope she gets better!
Paul Barrett
Aug 27th 2010, 08:50
I am not saying that this is true or the cause in this particular case but I thought I had read or heard somewhere that drug abuse of some types of drugs can cause "flashbacks" and or "hallucinations" years after you have stopped using them and they therefore would not show up on any tests for current drug use.
Matthew Agius
Aug 27th 2010, 09:26
Compassion...such a rare word.
Vince DeBono
Aug 27th 2010, 13:18
Matthew, try EDUCATION. Don't judge or condemn, but informed comment on this or any other newsworthy event could help others avoid pitfalls... hopefully. Paul's insight never occured to me, for example
R.Borg
Aug 27th 2010, 08:37
"Do not judge and you will not be judged,
.........I was naked and you clothed me"............Jesus Christ
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 27th 2010, 08:49
Well said
Teresa Pace
Aug 27th 2010, 13:22
Yes indded well said! Amen to that!
G. Camilleri
Aug 27th 2010, 08:26
The effect of high stress ......