Model whose face was ripped open by leopard during photoshoot shares horror injuries as she VISITS big cat

A MODEL whose face was ripped open by a leopard during a photoshoot has shared her horrific injuries while she visited the big cat. Jessica Leidolph, 36, who was attacked by the beast last month in Germany, decided to visit the leopard as “part of her therapy”. NewsflashThe model was bitten on the face by the leopard during a photoshoot[/caption] NewsflashTroja attacked the model when she entered her enclosure[/caption] NewsflashJessica Leidolph has been left with permanent scars following the attack[/caption] She said: “I made a conscious decision to take this step. “The fact that I’m standing here today is part of my therapy, which should help me to come to terms with the accident. Fortunately, my face is healing well.” However, Birgit Stache, the owner of the facility housing the leopard, told the German daily Bild that donations have dropped off since the attack. She said “we are attacked, there are no food donations”, before adding that she has “respect and does not blame Troy.” Leidolph was mauled by 16-year-old leopard Troja during a photoshoot at a home for retired show animals. The big cat suddenly attacked her when she entered her enclosure. Most read in The Sun SIGHS OF RELIEF Sarah Everard's parents in tears as warped killer told he'll die in prison drug ban Katie Price's kids warned they'd 'never speak to her again' if she took cocaine TV bug Good Morning Britain in huge blunder as Ben Shephard is forced to apologise such a drag Harry 'oozed alcohol from every pore' & stank of cigarettes, TV host says RON-SIDE OR NOT? Viewers sure Lingard was offside for Ronaldo's dramatic Man Utd winner RAISED IN FEAR Inside ‘world’s worst child abuse case’ that left girl unable to walk ‘I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BLEED TO DEATH’ The 36-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital, in the city of Halle, where she was immediately operated on. Recalling the moment of the attack she admitted she thought she would bleed to death and considered herself lucky to be alive. She told the outlet: “He attacked me, I couldn’t look that fast. I was sitting by the tree trunk and all of a sudden I was lying on the ground. He bit into my cheek, ear, head, and then again and again into my head. “And then I screamed, put my hands in front of my face. At some point he let go of me for a moment, so that I could roll away and get out of the cage. A little later the ambulance and the helicopter were there.” But despite being left with permanent scars from the attack, she begged the authorities not to put the big cat down, saying: “I don’t want the animal to be killed, it just followed its instincts. “It was unfortunate. I am glad there was no request to euthanise the animal.” Nevertheless, Jessica who worked as an animal rights activist and a physiotherapist prior to the incident, revealed that she does not blame the 110 lbs leopard or its owner Birgit Stache, 48, for what happened. She said: “The leopard was secured twice by its owner.” ONGOING INVESTIGATION The police also started an investigation to determine who else was present at the photoshoot and what safety precautions were in place. A police spokesperson said: “So far, there has not been a reason, from a structural or veterinary perspective, to take action against the retirement home for show animals.” Despite having 20 years’ experience and holding a legal licence to keep the animals, Stache, the owner, was issued a security law order by the district authorities, according to which she is forbidden to let “unauthorised third parties” inside the facility. The authorities said that Jessica “was only injured because she was inside the cage”. Pro Wildlife animal rights activist Katharina Lameter, 29, urged officials to “immediately give the leopard away to a specialised rescue centre”. NewsflashThe model said she thought she was going to bleed to death[/caption] NewsflashHowever, she does not blame the leopard for what happened[/caption] We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.