A young migrant worker who had her legs amputated after being found destitute on the streets of Northern Ireland today praised medical staff for saving her life.
Ms Oksana Sukhanova (23) was picked up suffering frostbite and rushed to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.
had previously rejected the offer a plane ticket home, it emerged tonight.
Ms Sukhanova (23) disclosed her former employers had been ready to pay for a flight back to the Ukraine three months before she was found homeless.
Ms Sukhanova had quit work at a poultry factory in Rasharkin, Co Antrim.
Bosses at McKeown Fine Foods said they had wanted to help her get back to her family. In a statement tonight the firm said: "In these circumstances it is company policy, in the interests of the welfare of the worker, to facilitate and book a return air ticket to the employee's home country.
"Regrettably, when she didn't want to take up this offer, the agency in Eastern Europe which organised her employment in Northern Ireland was contacted and they urged her to re-consider the offer and return home to the Ukraine.
"She told them that she did not wish to come home and decided to remain in Northern Ireland. At that time we requested the agency to advise her mother of her decision - this was done."
Ms Sukhanova slept rough in sub zero temperatures for more than a week before she was admitted to hospital on New Year's Day.
As she began her tortuous recovery at Belfast's City Hospital, she expressed her gratitude to those who treated her.
Through an interpreter, she said: "I would like to thank everyone who helped me since I came into hospital. "I would also like to thank the many people who have made contact to pass on good wishes for my recovery and made offers of help and support.
"I'm aware of the great interest by the media in my situation. I request that I am given the time to make further progress." Dozens of offers of aid for Ms Sukhanova have poured in since details of her horrific ordeal emerged.