A brave woman, who was kidnapped by an abusive partner and fell headfirst from a moving van, has taken her first steps after suffering severe brain damage. Angel Lynn, now 22, was left unable to speak after being taken by her abusive ex.
The then 19-year-old was hurled in to a van by Chay Bowskill, 21, in September 2020 and, after making the decision to leave the toxic relationship. Angel fell from a van moving at 60mph on the A6 in Leicestershire, reports the Mirror.
Her life changed forever in the aftermath with her parents, Nikki and Paddy, being warned she could die numerous times from the damage caused by the fall. Angel was left unable to speak, eat, or walk since the incident.
The youngster from Loughborough, Leicestershire, was studying to become a forensic scientist and was said to have a close relationship with her parents. But now in a moment of significant progress, Angel has now taken her first steps since the horrific incident.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Nikki said: "She's doing really well. She can write, she is taking small sips of drink and they [her physiotherapists] are standing her up now.
"They are really good. She gets a bit moody sometimes when she is being bent around but it's doing her the world of good. She's loosening up."
Angel is said to require round-the-clock care at her rehab unit and her parents thanked the air ambulance crew that was called to the scene when the girl was found on the carriageway. Nikki said: "We just can't thank them enough. What they did, getting to Angel so fast, saved her life."
Brute Bowskill had grabbed her as she walked home and hurled her in to the vehicle as friend Rocco Sansome drove the van. Bowskill was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of kidnap, coercive and controlling behaviour, and perverting the course of justice.
His sentence was increased to 12 years after Court of Appeal judges said his original term for was not enough. Mum Nikki, 48, is optimistic about Angel's future.
She told The Sun: “She is communicating more and more. I know it won’t change things but I’m hoping one day she will speak and tell me what happened.” She will be the subject of a TV documentary to air on Channel 4 on Tuesday, May 9 at 9pm.
The series from producers Wonderhood Studios will follow Angel's recovery and uses texts, social media posts, photos and calls between Angel and abusive Bowskill to reveal her life before and after she suffered horrific injuries.
C4’s Will Rowson, who commissioned Kidnapped: The Angel Lynn Story, said: “Angel and her family have been so brave, choosing to share their story in the hope it will help others.”
Wonderhood Studios boss Samantha Anstiss said: “One woman is killed every three days in the UK as a result of domestic abuse so, sadly, Angel’s story will be familiar to many.”
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