French ‘tourist’ defiant amid claims her search for Queensland baby daddy is a hoax

The story of a French tourist claiming she fell pregnant to a Queensland man while on holiday in Mooloolaba has made headlines around the world – but is it a hoax?

The woman, who identifies herself as Natalie Aymot, posted a video online detailing a “beautiful night” with a Queensland man she claims to have met at O’Malley’s Irish Bar.

She said it was “love at first sight” but when she flew home to Paris the following day she lost her phone and with it, his number.

Six weeks later Ms Aymot claims she discovered she was pregnant and decided to fly back to the Sunshine Coast to find him.

A number of European and UK websites, including French news site 20 Minutes and The Sun, have begun to cast doubt on the story, questioning why the woman has failed to reveal the man’s name or the exact date the meeting occurred.

20 Minutes questions the “significant financial resources” Ms Aymot must have to make multiple trips between Australia and France.

She identifies the man only by describing him as 180cm tall, with blue eyes and blond hair – a description not unusual for a Sunshine Coast resident.

The Independent notes the video provided a link to a Facebook account that was later deleted. A ‘Public Figure’ page has since been created.

It features only one photo of Ms Aymot, which appears to be a still image from the video.

Disbelievers have taken to Twitter, sharing a photo published by the Sunshine Coast Daily of three young women at Mooloolaba beach.

One of the women bears a striking resemblance to Ms Aymot but gave the name Alizee Michel.

In posts to her Facebook page Ms Aymot reiterates she has declined invitations by media for interviews as she does not want to scare him.

“Why do you think I didn’t do any tv etc? cos I don’t want to scar him of… please, let me see him [sic],” she wrote.

“Please, I didn’t think it would be on news… I just want to see him again… sorry. I have nothing left if I don’t find him ill go home… I just want to see… if he says no then ok… is that wrong?[sic]”

Numerous commenters to the page believe the video is likely a hoax, but a possible motivation remains unclear.

Queensland Tourism and Sunshine Coast Tourism have denied any involvement, as has the owner of O’Malleys.