Beauty queen gives herself 50 electric shocks a day to stay alive

April Coxon had severe epilepsy she could not be left alone because constant seizures put her life at risk.

But now, after groundbreaking operations, an electrical device implanted in her chest allows April to send electric shocks to her brain to "interrupt" the oncoming seizure.

The 21-year-old, who now calls herself the "bionic beauty queen", has praised the NHS for allowing her to have the procedure, which means she can live a normal life for the first time.

April, of Sunderland, said: "It was odd at first giving myself electric shocks.

"They do hurt but it's worth it to have some independence for the first time in my life. Before I couldn't do anything on my own.

Now I can go out with my friends, but they have to be careful not to sit too close when I give myself an electric shock or they get a jolt too."

April had the surgery last May at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Surgeons inserted a small electrical device similar to a pacemaker, called a vagus nerve stimulator, in her chest and wired it to a second device in her brain.

When triggered by a magnet she wears on her wrist, it sends electrical impulses to her brain.

An electric shock at the early sign of a seizure either stops or cuts the impact of a seizure. April said: "The only downside is it hurts but it's a small price to pay to have my life back."

April was diagnosed with epilepsy at 12. She said: "It affected my confidence so much. I couldn't talk to people as I feared having a fit. When I got older I couldn't be left alone so I couldn't even date.

"I needed 24-hour care which was tough on my family and me. I was told I would never be able to drive or swim in case I had a fit."

April competed in Miss Teen Great Britain in a bid to boost her confidence. She said: "It also helped me to raise awareness of epilepsy."

After reading about vagus nerve simulation she begged her doctor to refer her for the operation only available in extreme cases.

She said: "I was frightened the first time I shocked myself but I was astonished when it worked and prevented a seizure. I knew I was going to be able to live a normal life.

"As I suffered so many fits it's not unusual to give myself up to 50 shocks a day. Now I want to enter more pageants and become the first bionic beauty queen."

• News credit: Express