Emily's fight for the future after 49-day hostage hell

SCHOOLGIRL Emily Hand has made extraordinary progress since she was taken by Hamas gunmen in the October 7 attacks two years ago today.

- EXCLUSIVE BY ANDY LINES Chief Reporter and PAUL MARTIN

The 10-year-old is now thriving at school and enjoying her new hobbies - surfing and skydiving. But her dad Thomas told us his daughter still bears the scars of her 49 days in captivity.

Recalling the day she was freed, he said: "As we drove from the Gaza border, she listened to her hero Taylor Swift. But she would not sing along, only whisper the words and the tune. Later she said the people who held her captive put a big knife on the table and said if she made even the slightest noise they would use it to cut her throat.