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Aussie surfer sheds light on harrowing abduction, rape ordeal

Pictured here, former Aussie surfer Carmen Greentree and her newly released book.
Carmen Greentree's book details her harrowing ordeal in India during her 20s. Pic: Instagram

Sickening details have emerged around retired Aussie surfer Carmen Greentree's kidnapping and rape ordeal, early in her career.

Now 37, the former surfing star from the NSW south coast has opened up on the time she was kidnapped and repeatedly raped when she was 22.

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Greentree has gone into explicit detail about the ordeal in a recently released book titled: A Dangerous Pursuit of Happiness.

The former pro surfer said after spending a large chunk of her youth travelling around the world for competitions, she decided to take a break from the sport.

“For seven years of my life I was 100 per cent, morning to night, solely focused on being world champion,” she told Nine News.

“Nothing else mattered more than that. It was an escape from life.”

Deciding to take a sabbatical in India, Greentree’s dream plan to learn from the Dalai Lama turned into a nightmare when was was abducted in 2004 after seeking help from a local to find her way to Kashmir.

Greentree was captured and taken to a houseboat where she was subsequently held prisoner for two months and subjected to repeated sexual abuse from her captor.

“The worst feeling was when I gave in and let him take what he wanted,” she told the Daily Mail.

“That was the first time he raped me. I was too tired, I couldn’t fight anymore, and I knew he wasn’t going to stop.’

“I lost track of how many times he raped me. I’ve blocked it out so much I don’t remember most of (the assaults) anymore,’ she said.

“I was completely broken, I wasn’t even me anymore. I was existing as a shell.”

Carmen Greentree, pictured here surfing a wave.
Carmen Greentree hits the waves. Image: Facebook

Surfer hails power of healing after ordeal

Greentree's escape came after her captor forced the young surfer to call home and demand money in exchange for her freedom.

Fortunately, authorities were able to track the location of the call and two men were subsequently arrested.

The perpetrators were never sentenced, however, because Greentree refused to return to India for a trial.

Greentree says while the horrific ordeal left her broken, she hopes that by sharing the experience in her book, it will help others understand that healing is possible.

“I believe that so many of us have gone through our own tragic experiences and at times we don’t believe we can heal,” Carmen told 9 News.

“I’ve written my book to show how I’ve learnt and how I’ve healed. I want people to read it and hope they can create a good life regardless of what’s happened.”

Greentree has since married husband Grant and the pair have three children together.