A Mission woman had an unsettling experience while tanning at Norrish Creek on Tuesday afternoon (June 25).
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said a man was hiding in the bushes watching her before taking his clothes off and masturbating.
She was relaxing in a quieter area of Norrish Creek, known to locals as Suicide Creek, that she often frequents. On Tuesday, she could see a man in her peripheral view, but any time she would turn towards his direction he would hide behind the trees.
Initially, he was wearing shorts and she couldn’t tell what he was up to.
“It was crazy at first because I didn't really know what he was doing,” she said.
The woman says he kept getting creepy, coming out of the bushes with less clothes on each time.
Over the course of roughly 20 minutes, she says the man came out of the bushes totally naked, touching himself.
The woman packed her things and walked back towards the bridges.
“I didn't call the police right away because my description is a white naked man in a hat. He could have thrown clothes on and walked out and I wouldn't know who he was,” she said.
The incident made the woman feel anxious and nauseous.
She contacted Mission RCMP when she got home and also posted about the incident on local Facebook groups to spread awareness for those who could be in the area.
The woman enjoys Norrish Creek as a place to relax, look at the water and watch birds but is unsure about returning.
“When I saw him creeping in the bushes , it kind of ruins the relaxing feeling of the whole day. Normally I go there with my daughter – she wasn't with me on Tuesday – but I want to keep going back to that spot. I don't know how I'm gonna feel once I actually try going back,” she said.
The woman says she has no problem with the nudists who frequent the beach.
In a statement, Mission RCMP encouraged anyone attending the area to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious people or activity to police immediately.
"These types of matters are taken seriously, however only a very general description was available for the man, and he has not been identified at this time," Mission RCMP said.
Anyone who sees the man can call Mission RCMP at 604-826-7161, referencing police file number 24-7337.