Dad Thomas: She still has scars but is getting her life back

FREED Hamas hostage Emily Hand has made extraordinary progress since she was snatched by Hamas gunmen exactly two years ago.

- BY ANDY LINES and PAUL MARTIN

On the second anniversary of the horrific terror attacks Emily is now ten years old and flourishing at school.

She's even taken up surfing and skydiving.

But her dad Thomas - in an exclusive interview - reveals his darling daughter still bears some scars of her horrendous ordeal.

He will return to his kibbutz to "have a beer" with his dear British friend Lianne Sharabi who was killed on October 7. But it will be at her graveside.

Thomas said: "When I look back, I can see that Emily's progress has been amazing.

"For many weeks she wouldn't let me out of her sight. She refused to go to school again. But gradually things changed.

"She got therapy and got to ride a pony and a horse. The psychologists said that to ride the animals would help her overcome her feeling that she had lost control of her life. So on the horse she got back some feeling of control.

"She has been skydiving recently and she's learned to surf.

"I also took her on a boat, fishing. 'Hands Reaching Out' took her and other ex-hostage kids to Orlando Disney and she's excited they are going back there again soon.