Consuelo Cordoba being interviewed after her decision (Picture: CEN)

A woman badly injured in an acid attack has decided not to go ahead with euthanasia after the Pope told her she had a lot to live for.

Consuela Cordoba was attacked by her ex-partner 17 years ago, and left so badly injured that she can only eat liquid food through a straw and needs tubes in her nostrils to breathe.

She had planned her own death in detail, even down to where her grave would be.

But when she asked Pope Frances if he would bless her decision, she changed her mind.


She told international media: ‘He said no, he was not going to do it. He told me that I was very brave and very pretty. That changed my life. Now I want to live.

Pope Francis talks to journalists at the end of a five-day visit to Colombia (Picture: EPA)

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The acid attack by Dagoberto Esuncho left her so injured that she has to wear a mesh body suit at all times – but he served just one month in prison.

Consuela, from Istmina in the north-western Colombian department of Choco, has undergone 87 operations.

Her recent diagnosis of a brain infection, on top of everything else, was the final straw that made her decide to end her life and the date was set for 29th September.

However, when she was brought out of the crowd in Colombia to speak to the Pope, where he had been on a five day visit, she changed her mind.

Consuelo pictured before the attack (Picture: CEN)

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After hugging Consuela and being asked for her approval to end her life, Pope Francis refused to give it, she says.

‘So that I do not die, they will donate for the surgery that I need, which will cost several million pesos,’ she said.

‘Dr Gustavo Quinonez was going to give me the injection, but I’m not going to do it because God is going to bring greatness to my life.’

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