An acid attack victim who had planned her own death by euthanasia has changed her mind after talking to the Pope.

Colombian Consuela Cordoba, who was horrifically injured in an acid attack 17 years ago, planned to end her life with a doctor's help as euthanasia is legal in her home country in certain circumstances.

But when she recently met the pontiff and asked him for approval to end her life, he refused to give it, saying she was 'very brave and very pretty'.

Conseula decided there and then she would not kill herself.

Consuela Cordoba embraces Pope Francis during his five-day visit to Colombia last week

Consuela, from Istmina in the north-western Colombian department of Choco, has undergone 87 operations in an attempt to save her face. She needs tubes in her nostrils to breathe, can only consume liquid food through a straw and has to wear a mesh body suit at all times

When Consuela recently met the pontiff in Colombia and asked him for approval to end her life, he refused to give it, saying she was 'very brave and very pretty'. Conseula decided there and then she would not kill herself

She was injured when her ex-partner, Dagoberto Esuncho, threw acid over her in 2000 - a crime for which he served a meagre one month in prison.

In an interview with NPR in 2012, Conseula said: ‘I had perfect teeth, I was very pretty. But now, I'm destroyed.’

‘I've thought about committing suicide,’ she said. ‘I say to myself, why live? With a life like the one I have, what for?’

Consuela, from Istmina in the north-western Colombian department of Choco, has since undergone 87 operations in an attempt to reconstruct her face.

She needs tubes in her nostrils to breathe, can only consume liquid food through a straw and has to wear a mesh body suit at all times.

Her recent diagnosis of a brain infection made her decide to end her life with the help of doctors.

The date was set for September 29, so when Pope Francis visited Colombia last week as part of a five-day visit, Consuela asked him for his approval for her plan.

She had been selected to talk to the pontiff and was brought out of the crowd.

The two hugged before Consuela asked him to allow her to end her life.

Consuela, pictured before the attack, had acid thrown over her face and body by her ex boyfriend in 2000. He served just one month in prison for the crime

She said: '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.

'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.

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

Consuela, who had planned her own burial, added: 'I am going to tell Dr Gustavo thank you very much for your injection, but it is for another.'