KFC employee who was thought to be brain dead after an overdose “because she was bullied by colleagues” takes first steps after waking up from coma

A KFC worker who miraculously survived a suicide attempt has taken her first steps since the incident that left her in a coma.

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

Emma, ​​32, was put into a coma and declared brain dead before she woke up, but she has since recovered and is able to take her first steps with help.

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

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

Emma (pictured), a ‘homely’ animal lover, contacted mental health charity MIND and was due to have her first appointment with them on Monday 15 July.

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

“She needs help getting dressed and washing herself, 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.

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 much better. When we think about where we were two months ago and where we are today, we are 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 that she 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.

Emma’s family from Essex said her first words after waking from a coma were: “Hello Mummy, hello Daddy”

David Price (pictured with his daughter Emma) said: “He is taking small steps on a long road to recovery.”

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.

KFC said it had launched an “urgent” investigation into the incident and that maintaining a “safe and inclusive” work environment was essential to the company.

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.”

If you need help and support, call the Samaritans free of charge and completely anonymously from any UK phone on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.