Sophie Delezio has won hearts around Australia for her bravery and determination.
The now 18-year-old woman was just a toddler when she was involved in a freak car crash at her Sydney child care center, just before Christmas in 2003. A then two-year-old Sophie suffered burns to 85 percent of her body. As a result of her injuries both her feet, her fingers and an ear had to be amputated. Only three years later tragedy struck the Delezio family again when Sophie was struck by a car on a pedestrian crossing. She was thrown almost 20 metres up the road.
Today, Sophie is planning on taking a major step telling Seven’s Sunrise that she’s moving abroad to study in the U.K.
“I’ve always wanted to live overseas,” Sophie shared with Sam Armytage and Kochie on Sunrise.
“When I was younger it was the whole New York dream but then I went to England (and) instantly fell in love with it and it just so happens that my mum was born there, so I’m a citizen by birth.”
The young adult plans on undertaking a course in sociology and international relations at university – although she’s yet to decide where she’s will be studying. Proud dad Ron believes his daughter has been ready for this step for 15-years.
“I think she’s been ready for this before the accident at two years of age,” he said, beaming happily alongside his little girl.
“She’d fall over and get straight back up again.
“We’re very proud of her. She’s very self-reliant now, street smart. She’ll do well.”
After her first accident, Sophie’s parents, Ron and Carolyn Delezio, founded charity A Day Of Difference, which is dedicated to supporting the families of critically injured children, as well as the hospitals that treat them and critical injury research.
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