Basildon: KFC employee takes first steps after bullying allegations

Emma Price, from Basildon, attempted to take her own life in July after allegedly being harassed at work at the fast-food company’s Pitsea branch.

The 32-year-old was put into a coma and declared brain dead before she woke up. She has now started to recover and has taken her first steps with help.

Her family is now more confident that Emma will be able to return home in the coming months.

Strong – Emma recovers in hospital (Image: David Price)

Mum Samantha Day, 56, said: “Her language is progressing much better, it is almost perfect and that is a really big step forward.”

“She can feed herself, but has weakness on the right side.

“She needs help getting dressed and washing, but everything else, including walking, is at least making progress.

“She takes a few steps and can stand on her own. It’s more of a shuffle, but she manages it.

“We hope she will walk. She can take a few steps and that’s more than we expected.”

Emma can now speak, but cannot yet walk without help and has memory problems due to brain damage.

Brave – Emma Price before her suicide attempt (Image: David Price)

Ms Day added: “She suffers from short-term memory loss and cannot remember exactly what she said or did.”

“We told her she had brain damage and might not be able to do the things she used to do.

“But she’s doing so much better. When we think about where we were two months ago and where we are today, we’re so happy.”

Mrs. Price had told her family that she was overworked while the other employees were doing nothing and that she had caught them talking about her behind her back.

She said she was told she was “troublemaking” and regularly came home crying because of the stress and overwork.

Emma, ​​a “homely” animal lover, contacted mental health charity MIND and was due to have her first appointment with them on July 15.

But just a few days before the appointment, Emma took an overdose and suffered a stroke and brain damage as a result.

Emma’s mother Samantha claims KFC has not contacted her about her recovery, but the fast food chain itself insists it has spoken to them.

A KFC spokesman said: “What Emma and her family have been through is devastating and our thoughts remain with them as she recovers.

“Ensuring an inclusive work environment is our top priority and we take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously.

“We have been in contact with Emma’s family since the incident and throughout her recovery, and these allegations are being fully investigated in a formal process that is ongoing.”