'gang shooting left me paralysed when i was 5, but i'm the one who feels guilty'

THUSHA KAMALESWARAN WAS JUST FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN SHE WAS PARALYSED AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF A GANG FIGHT. SHE HAS BRAVELY MANAGED TO FORGIVE HER KILLERS, BUT STILL CARRIES HER

OWN HEARTBREAKING GUILT... AMANDA STOCKS 07:00, 08 Mar 2025Updated 13:12, 08 Mar 2025 Dancing joyfully in the aisle of her uncle’s shop when she was gunned down - caught in the crossfire of

a gangland shooting - the CCTV images of five-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran shocked the world. Now, 14 years later, on International Women’s day, this truly inspirational woman is announcing

in The Mirror the launch of a charity, Spinal Hope, to help others like her. Thusha suffered devastating spinal cord injuries that fateful night in south London when, the innocent victim of

a mindless feud, she was left her paralysed from the waist down. Sitting on the banks of the River Cam in the historic university town of Cambridge, where she is studying medicine, now 19,

she tells The Mirror: “I want to use my experience to bring hope to spinal cord injury survivors. READ MORE: Girl shot in gang warfare aged 5 says death of little Olivia sparked

'flashbacks' “To suddenly be told your whole life is changing and all your hopes and dreams are ripped away can be devastating, so the charity aims to help people both emotionally

and financially.” Such is her courage, that she has even found it in her heart to forgive the men whose actions changed her life forever. “I do forgive them, they did change my life and

maybe things would be different if I wasn’t in a wheelchair,but I am still happy. They didn’t mean to hit me and did apologise to my parents during the trial. “I want to speak to them to

find out their point of view about what happened and ask them if what happened to me changed them.” A registered charity, Spinal Hope will have three pillars - financial support, emotional

support and mentoring. And it aims to create a future where individuals with spinal cord injuries can lead independent, fulfilling lives. Help will also be given advising on equipment and

adapting homes to make them accessible – something Thusha knows all about from firsthand experience. She says: “When you have a spinal cord injury you know how it will affect you medically,

but no one really tells you how your life will change in regards to family, friends and work. People accessing the charity can find someone who has been in the same position to talk to. “I

want to help people become as independent as I am, to lead the best life they can after a spinal cord injury. We’ll aim to give them the tools, knowledge and support to thrive.” While she is

unveiling the charity today, its official launch will be on 29 March - the 14th anniversary of the shooting. She says: “I chose this day as it’s close to my heart, it was the day my life

changed forever and I’m proof you can do anything if you are determined. “I will be very proud this year as we launch Spinal Hope. “The anniversary is not a day I dread at all, it makes me

realise how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t be here doing what I’m doing without my injury. “Last year my university friends surprised me by decorating my apartment and making a cake and nice

food. It helps to acknowledge it rather than hide from it and that’s why it was so important to launch the charity on the same day.” Remarkably, she bears no anger for what happened to her

when, as a carefree little girl, she was shot while in her uncle’s shop, Stockwell Food and Wine. One moment, she could be seen on the security footage, dancing around the shop. Moments

later, three gang members - targeting a drug-dealing rival who had gone into the convenience store - opened fire. They missed their intended target but a bullet hit Thusha in the chest,

passing through her body and shattering her spine. An emergency team had to operate in the street to restart her heart and, after being taken to nearby King’s College Hospital, she had to be

revived again when she went into cardiac arrest once more. She also suffered extensive bleeding. The fight to save Thusha’s life took eight hours and surgeons told her dad Sasi, 50, and mum

Sharmila, 48, that it was unlikely that she would ever walk again. Thusha’s family, including brother Thusan, now 26, and sister Thushika, 17, moved to a different area of London, shortly

after the attack to start a new life. But it was a very different life to the one the little girl had hoped for. Her dream of becoming a professional dancer was shot down in flames, the

moment that bullet hit her tiny body. Very much a cup half full optimist, however, with astonishing positivity, she says the experience has made her the person she is today and inspired her

to train to become a doctor. “There’s a bit of sadness I didn’t get to achieve my dancing dream, but I know I’ve done as much as I can to get closure on it and I have made another future,”

she says. Extremely bright. Thusha achieved three A * grades in her A-levels in chemistry, physics and maths, to win a place at university to study medicine. Looking back to her early days,

following the shooting, when she was treated at King’s College Hospital, she says: “It was a very hard situation. I was close to death pretty much and the love, care and affection my doctors

showed me was literally everything. I want to be able to give back to people in my situation. “I did dream of becoming a dancer, but that was not possible, so to be able to help people as a

consultant in spinal cord injuries is something I’m working towards. “I would love to see Dr Vidar Magnusson, who performed the surgery at the scene that saved my life. I met up with him a

few years after the shooting but we’ve lost touch and I’d love to tell him that I’m following my dream of being a doctor and how he inspired me. I’m so grateful to him.” Reflecting on her

time at Cambridge, so far, she adds: “I’m in the second year of a six-year medical degree, which is hard work, but I’m loving university and feel at home. I’ve got amazing friends who help

get me around Cambridge, as it’s not the most accessible of places. “I was a bit anxious when I arrived here, being in a wheelchair, but pretty quickly I realised that nobody cared – they

accepted it and saw me for who I am. “My parents taught me to be independent, so I’m grateful for that.” Thusha had dreamt of being able to walk independently one day, but says that, at

present, it’s not possible. “I can stand with help holding onto a frame, but my spine is not really strong enough to support me,” she says. “I really am at peace now with my wheelchair, it’s

part of who I am today. “ She shows a maturity beyond her years, as she talks of finding peace with what happened. In April 2012, Nathaniel Grant, then 21, Kazee, Kolawole, 19, and Anthony

McCalla 19, were all sentenced to life at the Old Bailey for the shooting. Grant was told he would serve at least 17 years and Kolawole and McCalla 14. She says: “I do forgive them ,but

there is a worry at the back of my mind that they are resentful towards me for having to go to prison for so long and I do feel that if I met them and found out they bear no resentment to

me, it would help me move on.” Article continues below For now, Thusha is focusing firmly on the future, as she launches the charity, saying: “We will help people in the UK and abroad – I

really do want to make a difference.” Spinal Hope will launch on 29 March with a gala dinner and dance event, where Thusha will give an inspirational speech. Tickets are still available and

donations to help launch the charity can be made at http://rebrand.ly/spinalhope. READ MORE: Shark's Anti Hair Wrap vacuum perfect for spring cleaning has been slashed by 20%