Wedding joy for acid attack victim Daniel
Man blinded by ex falls for his carer
A MAN blinded and scarred beyond recognition when a twisted girlfriend soaked him in sulphuric acid has got married – to his carer.
Daniel Rotariu wed Anna Catanga, who he has never seen because of the awful injuries inflicted on him.
He feared he would never find love again after his face was dissolved by crazed Katie Leong after a row.
But Daniel, 33, fell for Anna, 31, after she helped him through rehab at a support centre. The pair now have a 10-month-old son, David – whose passport only came through the day before they headed abroad for the wedding.
Thrilled Daniel said of the nuptials: “It was a brilliant day. All the stress just disappeared when I was getting ready to go to the church.
“After the attack, I never thought this would happen to me but it was wonderful. There were many family and friends who hadn’t seen me since the attack and that was quite emotional.
“I think some were shocked by how I looked. Some of my relatives started crying. But it just felt unbelievable to be marrying the woman I love after everything I’ve been through. I hope my story gives hope to others.”
The pair, who live in Nottingham, tied the knot at a catholic church in Daniel’s home town of Timisoara, Romania. Anna’s son Jack, seven, was among 80 guests.
Anna said: “It was the happiest day of my life. The best moment was when we were pronounced husband and wife. That was really special. I felt very excited when I was walking down the aisle, but I only wished that Daniel could see me.
EMOTIONAL
“I really loved my dress and my hair and make-up, but because he has no vision he’s never known what I look like.
“But it was really emotional because of everything we’ve been through.”
Former press setter Daniel had met Leong in January 2015 when they moved into a shared house in Leicester. Leong told Daniel she was 36 and they began a relationship – but in reality she was in her 50s. His life was shattered in July 2016 when, as he lay in bed, Leong poured half a litre of acid over him.
Daniel, who called for control of acid sales in an earlier Sunday Mirror interview, said: “I had been sleeping alone after another argument with Katie and as I came round it felt like she was U I R A T O R L E I N A D / U E N P E T U I T N E R U A L s re u t ic P throwing hot water on me. I didn’t know if it was a dream. The shock, the pain, that burning sensation. I leapt up, then I felt in my mouth it was acid, not water.
My right eye became foggy. Then my other eye left me. Everything went white, like I was surrounded by a very thick fog.”
Daniel was rushed to Nottingham City Hospital and spent five weeks in a coma.
His family flew to his bedside and broke down because they couldn’t recognise his face.
When he came round, he was so low he considered suicide. But carer Anna pulled him back from the brink.
As her feelings for Daniel grew, she quit her job so that they could begin a relationship.
Anna said: “I enjoyed his flirting. He was funny, clever and entertaining. I enjoyed his company so much.”
Daniel added: “On our first date friends collected me, we picked up Anna and went for dinner. They left us in town and I kissed her the first time.”
A court heard Leong tested the acid on sausage meat to ensure it would burn through human flesh.
She was jailed for life with a minimum 17 years for attempted murder and was ordered to pay Daniel £19,000 in compensation. Despite everything, Daniel remains upbeat and added: “I’ve had the happy ending I never thought was possible.”