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Charla Nash talks to Oprah - Source: Oprah Show -
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Nine months after Charla Nash was attacked by a 90kg chimpanze she has appeared in public for the first time, revealing her face and speaking about her attack on the Oprah show.
On February 16 this year Nash, 56, went to a friends house to help her get her pet chimp, Travis, inside after he had escaped.
Upon finding him Travis savagely attacked Nash leaving her in critical condition. She was bitten and mauled by the chimp who had once starred in television commercials for the likes of Coca-Cola.
The owner of the chimp tried to stop him by stabbing him and hitting him with a shovel but the chimp got away and then stormed a police car that had arrived at the scene. The chimp ripped off the wing-mirror on the car and opened the driver's door leading the officer to shoot him.
The animal was reportedly normally well behaved and engaged in human activities such as watching television, sitting at the dinner table, brushing his teeth and surfing the internet.
Orpah.com reported that when the police found Nash they found it hard to believe an animal was responsible for her injuries as it looked like her hands had gone through a meat grinder.
Miraculously Nash survived although the chimp broke most of the bones in her face and ripped off her nose, lips, eyes and hands. Now a large portion of her scalp is missing, she only has one thumb and doctors had to create a hole in her face so she can receive fluids through a straw.
Nash opened up on the Oprah Show telling people that exotic animals are very dangerous. She told Oprah she cannot remember anything from the attack and is glad for that. However, she says does remember that Travis the chimp had always been scary.
Nash told Oprah she is no longer in pain but wears a veil to cover her face, more for the sake of others. However on the show Nash revealed her face to the public for the first time. She had gone to great measures in the past to keep it secret, even posting armed guards outside her house.
Nash told Oprah that she counts on the support of loved ones, such as her 17-year-old daughter and that she initially thought about giving up.
The Nash family is suing Sandra Herold, the owner of the chimp for $US50 million.
