Ladies Of London actress Annabelle Neilson, who was found dead last week following a heart attack, aged 49, started a heroin addiction as a teenager while travelling around Australia in her gap year in 1985.
Her life was turned upside down at age 16. While she was staying with a family in Perth, she was attacked by a serial killer who was later convicted of murdering three women.
‘The attack lasted for two hours. I was tied to a tree and continually beaten. I looked like the elephant girl by the end of it,’ she revealed to the Daily Mail back in 2015.
‘After that, I fell into a serious depression and became a heroin addict because it provided an escape bubble and was the only way I could cope. In a way, heroin saved me because otherwise I would have killed myself.’
If you, or anyone you know, is seeking support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.
For the full story see this weeks issue of New Idea, on sale now.
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