Andreas Christoforos is the man who was attacked with acid, in 2014, by another man, by mistake, resulting in the destruction of his life.
The story of this young man looks like a Hollywood movie script, taken from the most drawn imagination of a paranoid screenwriter, however, it is absolutely true.
A man with a smile on his face, who did not want to upset anyone
Andreas is a very sweet man, well-meaning and kind. A good family man, hardworking and very dear to all who know him. No one can forget that bright, sparkling, loving, smile that perfectly covered the sadness, so that no one is upset.
His life was going well until 2014, when an unknown man attacked him and ruined his life.
"It was a mistake… the culprit wanted revenge on another man όμως but he ruined Andreas ζωή ζωή ζωή……"
Andreas Christoforos reports to ant1.com.cy:
"My father was born and raised in the village of Agios Georgios Spatharikou (now a village in the province of Famagusta).
But he left for England very young, where he worked hard and managed to become a very good businessman. He was well known and loved throughout the Cornwall community where we lived. He married my English mother and they had four children, three girls and a boy. I am the youngest and I was born in 1985 in Truro, Cornwall, UK. I grew up and studied there. My parents once returned to Cyprus about 25 years ago.
My childhood was beautiful. My father tried not to miss anything. But we also lived in a very beautiful area of England, around us there was a beautiful sea and in the middle it looked like we lived in the countryside. But I love our Cyprus; many of my relatives live here and I do my best to come at least once a year. I love our landscapes, our people, our traditions, our customs, everything. I have two boys and I want them to get to know our Cyprus as much as possible.
He worked a lot and did not enjoy his family
We lived in Turo with my wife Pia and my eldest son Theo, who was 18 months old when the attack took place. I worked very hard, seven days a week and that was my biggest problem, I was not happy as much as I would like my family.
At that time I was working hard, from morning till night because I was trying to open my new business. Everything I learned about work, I learned from my father. From a young age he had me near him and he taught me. I was very excited about my job, it was half my life, it was my hobby. Then came my salvation…
The unknown van that drove under his work
I was sitting at my desk - it was around 4:00 - when I saw a red van coming and going down the street. Because I have lived there for many years, I knew the vehicles that usually passed and who owned them. But I had noticed that that van was exactly the same as the one I had and used for work (it had the same color and was the same model). I did not pay more attention and continued to work. A few minutes later, someone knocked on my door.
An unknown man threw sulfuric acid in his face
I thought he was the courier (because we were waiting for him to bring us some things for Christmas) and I went to open it. As soon as I opened the door, an unknown man threw sulfuric acid in my face and said, "This is for you." It all happened so fast that I did not have time to put my hands in front to save my face.
My shirt melted in a matter of seconds. I called my wife and she immediately called 999. She could not believe what had happened. Fortunately, at that time my son was in his crib (he was sick, he had a fever all night and at that time he was sleeping).
He fell into a coma after the deposition
I went to the kitchen to put water on my face, I did not know at that moment if this was right or wrong. I did not lose consciousness because I remember talking to the nurses in the ambulance, but also later to the police, I said everything in detail and that I was not guilty of anything, I did not do any harm to anyone.
I fell into a coma after giving a statement to the police and woke up 5 days later at Morriston Swansea Hospital and in the hands of experienced doctors. I thought, naively, that I would be completely well, the same as before… However I was lucky because I was alive. The doctors then told my mother and wife to expect the worst. When I woke up, I saw everyone's faces looking at me with wonder. They could not believe that I managed to open my eyes and even that I was seeing. Unfortunately then I saw better…
He had burns all over his face
I had burns everywhere… On my face, neck and arms. No doctor knew at that time what my vision would be like and no one expected me to be as well as I am today. I had a lot of skin grafts on my face, basically all over my face except for a few small areas on my chin and lower cheeks. I also had a very serious problem with my lashes. So far I have had 3 new sets of new lashes.
He does not see at all through the left eye
I did a lot of surgeries until my eyes got the right shape. Today I have managed to reconcile with my image, with my wounds. Unfortunately from the left eye I can not see at all because my left side has suffered more damage from the acid because of the way I stood.
I was told to have a stem cell transplant in my left eye but I refused. I prefer to wait, maybe in the future there will be something much more effective. We all know that huge advances have been made in ophthalmology in recent years.
Although my pupils have scars and last year the surgeons at Moorfield Eye Hospital removed some and fortunately my vision in my right eye has improved considerably.
The death of his father cost him a lot
My life today ίζω I continue surgeries to improve both my face and my vision. I work and spend a lot of time with my two sons. (I also had a second baby boy). Unfortunately, three years ago, my father passed away, which cost me a lot.
Ambassador and board member of Face Forward International
What gives me great joy μαι I am an ambassador and a member of the board of "Face Forward International". Face Forward was founded on the principle that survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and cruelty should have access to surgical care and emotional counseling regardless of their income level. We have to bridge this gap and provide these services free of charge to survivors.
Face Forward allows women, children and men to rebuild their lives inside and out for a brighter future. We always welcome support in the form of donations, sponsorships and collaborations to promote our mission. The average treatment and patient visit costs around $ 10.000 and in 2018 alone, we provide over $ 1.000.000 in free treatment services to our patients).
He was punished for something he did not do
I keep smiling, dreaming and hoping for the best. I was punished for something I did not do… it came to me by mistake… a mistake I paid for and I pay dearly. I wish this man never reached my door, but also no one else's door ".
The man who threw the sulfuric acid in Andreas's face was David Phillips and had driven 483 kilometers from Sussex to avenge someone who thought he had attacked a member of his family, but was wrong… Andreas Christoforos was not the one he was looking for.
Phillips was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of eight years in October 2015 but his life sentence was overturned a year later. The judges basically sentenced him to 16 years and said he would be eligible for acquittal after serving eight years.
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