This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/salisbury-spy-poisoning-latest-russia-sergei-skripal-yulia-uk-embassy-a8366021.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Salisbury spy poisoning: Yulia Skripal says she is 'lucky to have survived' and would one day like to go home to Russia | Salisbury spy poisoning: Yulia Skripal says she is 'lucky to have survived' and would one day like to go home to Russia |
(35 minutes later) | |
Yulia Skripal has said she feels lucky to have survived the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which left her fighting for life. | Yulia Skripal has said she feels lucky to have survived the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which left her fighting for life. |
Ms Skripal, who was poisoned along with her ex-spy father Sergei, said her life had been “turned upside down” by the assassination attempt. | |
But the Russian national added she hoped to return to her homeland one day, despite the Kremlin being blamed for the attack. | |
The pair were found unconscious on a bench in the Wiltshire city on 4 March. | |
Ms Skripal, 33, was in a coma for 20 days following the attack and has been living under police protection at a secret location since her release from hospital last month. | |
“I woke to the news that we had both been poisoned,” she said in a written statement supplied in both English and Russian. | |
“I still find it difficult to come to terms with the fact that both of us were attacked,” she added. “We are so lucky to have both survived this attempted assassination. | |
“Our recovery has been slow and extremely painful. I don’t want to describe the details but the clinical treatment was invasive, painful and depressing. | |
“I was discharged from hospital on the 9 April and continue to progress with treatment but my life has been turned upside down as I try to come to terms with the devastating changes thrust upon me both physically and emotionally.” | |
Both she and her father needed time “recover and come to terms with everything that has happened,” she added. | |
Mr Skripal, who was the most critically ill following the attack, left hospital last week for the first time since he was poisoned. | |
“I take one day at a time and want to help care for my dad till his full recovery,” said his daughter, who paid tribute to the “all of the wonderful, kind staff at Salisbury hospital”. | |
“I also think fondly of those who helped us on the street on the day of the attack,” she added. | |
“In the longer term I hope to return home to my country,” Ms Skripal said. “I’m grateful for the offers of assistance from the Russian Embassy but at the moment I do not wish to avail myself of their services.” | |
She added: “No one speaks for me, or for my father, but ourselves.” | She added: “No one speaks for me, or for my father, but ourselves.” |