It’s a scene worthy of a real horror movie that American women experienced after they were attacked and bitten by bats while staying in a “castle” in Michigan that was offered for rent on Airbnb.
According to a complaint filed Monday in Alpena County Court, the group of seven women decided to sue the owner of the space and the apartment rental platform, NBC News reported.
However, their stay had started well at the end of July when they celebrated their 50th alumni reunion at this residence called “Château”.
After three days of celebration, their reunion took a frightening turn when two of the women, who were in a room in the tower, were awakened by shrill noises and dark shapes on the walls, the complaint says. “According to the American media.
Terrified, they rushed screaming into the hallway after slamming the door and sealing the frame with blankets, their lawyer Jon Marko said.
But the surprise was far from over as a bat appeared in the corridor before others followed.
Seeing that the stairwell was invaded by these animals, they rushed to another room to hide under blankets.
“More and more bats began to enter living spaces. Bats crawled down the old slatted walls and entered through the gaps in the baseboards. The night was peppered with screams heard from one room to the next, then the next, then the next,” the complaint states.
In particular, the bats became entangled in the hair of some residents of the site, and others were beaten and bitten by the animals.
Present for several years?
According to an exterminator called to the scene, “a large colony of Michigan brown bats was living in the attic.”
“The exterminator estimated that this colony had been in the attic for several years,” the lawsuit states.
For his part, the host called the incident “incredibly random and unfortunate from the start.”
“We immediately made the requested refund and also offered to pay for the hotel stay and dinner. “No expense or effort was spared to resolve this situation as quickly and professionally as possible,” he replied to a comment from the women on Airbnb.
“In the end the expert could only find a (probably passing) thug. Bats are very active in northern Michigan this time of year and it is unfortunate that one ended up indoors,” he added.