An investigation has been launched after an Irish tourist was allegedly raped outside a hostel in South Africa.
The alleged attack is believed to have happened last month in the city of East London in South Africa's Eastern Cape.
The woman had been with a group of American and Canadian backpackers at the Buccaneers Lodge and Backpackers when she wandered away around midnight.
They only noticed she was missing when she didn't show for breakfast the next morning.
She was later found "dazed and screaming" in bushes nearby, The Irish Sun reports.
A source told local media: "Some of those who were searching for her heard someone softly crying from the dense forest nearby the Backpacker, and on closer inspection, she was found in the bushes."
The woman was taken to hospital last week where she was placed under sedation.
A spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesman: "SAPS can confirm that the country of birth of the victim is Ireland.
"That has been confirmed through her passport which the Investigating Officer has on the case docket."
The incident is now being investigated by the FSC unit in the South African Police Service.
Colonel Sibongile Soci said: "SAPS can confirm that a rape case has been registered and is under investigation by Uitenhage FCS.
"The team of investigators has already began searching for leads and obtaining the statements from the group who were with the victim during their visit.
"The investigation will also try to verify all the other uncertainties on the matter."
