Doctor helped our desperate family

EMINA Hadziosmanovic was just four when, on April 18, 1992, she and her family fled war-torn Bosnia for a new life in England.

They endured a perilous journey which nearly killed them to reach safety – but have since gone on to thrive in Birmingham.

However, this would not have been possible without Dr Natasha Savic, who placed them on a list for medical evacuees, when Emina’s little sister Edina – who has Down’s syndrome – became poorly.

Emina, 33, says: “Without her help life would have been very, very different for the whole family.”

The ordeal of getting out of the country she recalls all too well. She says: “The bus stopped and started

LIFELINE Dr Savic helped rescue Edina

because the Serbs would come on and check paperwork.

“They also took people’s jewellery and if you refused then your finger would be cut off with the ring still GRATEFUL Emina attached.” And Emina nearly died while crossing a bridge that was bombed – causing hundreds of people to fall into the water. She says: “My legs shake even thinking about it.” Despite their best efforts, the family had struggled to get in contact with Dr Savic to thank her.

However, Anita Rani and the Saved by a Stranger team were able to track her down in Holland and in 2019 she visited Emina in the UK.

Emina says: “She was exactly how I remembered her and seeing her meant the absolute world to my family.

“We’ve stayed in touch and are hoping to visit her.”

■ Saved by a Stranger is on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.