Woman Whose Face Was Torn Apart By Chimpanzee Reveals Her Appearance 16 Years After Face Transplant

A woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee has shared a health update after undergoing a life-changing face transplant.

Charla Nash was attacked in 2009 by her friend Sandra Herold’s pet chimpanzee, Travis, at Sandra’s home in Connecticut.

The animal ripped off her nose, lips, eyelids, and hands. Though Sandra tried to stop the chimp by hitting him with a shovel and stabbing him in the back, her efforts weren’t enough to prevent the horrific injuries.

Police arrived at the scene and shot the animal. Charla was rushed to the hospital, where she was left fighting for her life and severely disfigured.

Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee undergoing physical therapy 16 years after face transplant in rehabilitation room.

Charla Nash revealed her progress after undergoing a face transplant following a savage attack by a chimp

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

In 2011, two years after the attack, Charla underwent a full face transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the hospital’s third-ever procedure of its kind.

In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, the 71-year-old woman said the surgery “brought [her] life back” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to “live a better life.”

Charla reportedly lives in a nursing home, where she undergoes rehabilitation and speech therapy.  

Chimpanzee with a baby, related to woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee and face transplant story.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

“Life’s getting better. It is coming around slowly but, yeah, it’s getting better. It’s hard, but it’s better,” she said in the interview.

Charla, a former barrel racer and horse jumper, said she’s starting to eat solid food again and the feeling of numbness is going down in some parts of her face. 

“The nose and the upper lip I can’t feel yet, but, little by little, it’s coming back. I can feel my cheek and forehead, so it’s getting there.”

She added: “I can’t chew steak. I can chew chicken, it’s a little softer. I can chew pizza. The crust is hard, but the pizza is OK. I’m starting to get back into eating salads again. That was my favorite—salads.”

In 2009, Charla’s face was ripped off by Travis, the pet chimp of her friend, Sandra Herold

Woman interacting with chimpanzee before attack that led to face transplant, revealing appearance 16 years later.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

Chimpanzee shown in close-up with mouth open, related to woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee case.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

As a result of the attack, Nash was left blind after she had her eyes removed due to a disease transmitted by the animal. She now has glass eyes, which were part of her facial reconstruction.

The face transplant was funded by the US military, which was interested in the operation to help wounded veterans. In return, Charla agreed to undergo medical tests every few weeks.

The woman undergoes MRIs and CT scans to analyze how well her brain is responding to the transplant. Doctors also examine how well her arteries deliver blood to her new face.

Sandra stabbed the chimp in the back to stop him but her efforts were in vain

Woman showing appearance 16 years after face transplant following chimpanzee attack, sitting indoors in a casual setting.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

In a 2018 interview with the Boston Herald, Charla discussed how she had always questioned her friend’s decision to keep a monkey locked up in her home.

“I remember looking at him in his cage and feeling sorry for him,” she said.

“My thoughts were always, ‘How is she allowed this animal in her house? What if he gets loose someday and somebody gets hurt?’

“I know the animals are cute—but they’re just not pets.”

Hospital medical monitor showing vital signs in the background of a woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee case.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

Sandra Herold reportedly treated Travis, the 200-pound chimpanzee, as if he were her son. She trained him to open doors, use the computer, drink wine from a glass, eat at the table, and dress himself.

A few days before the attack, the chimp tried to escape from the house by taking Sandra’s car keys and trying to start different cars outside.

To ensure the animal would come back, the owner reportedly gave him an iced tea laced with Xanax, a potent tranquilizer.

Charla, who was left blind and disfigured, underwent a full face transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Close-up of woman smiling outdoors, showing her face 16 years after a chimpanzee attack and subsequent face transplant.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee touching a horse with assistance, revealing her appearance after face transplant.

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

Experts suggested that the chimp may have attacked Charla because she had a different hairstyle that day, and he may have perceived her as an intruder.

Others speculated that the medication could have negatively affected the animal, making him aggressive.

In the 2018 interview, Charla said the attack had impacted her everyday tasks, making her more patient and dependent on others.

“Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot I can do,” she shared. “I’ve lost so much independence… I could change my own truck tire, and now I can’t even feed myself.”

Woman with face transplant 16 years after being attacked by chimpanzee, sitting in a room wearing a colorful headscarf.

She said the surgery has “brought [her] life back” and the numbness in her face has gone down

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

The mother has devoted her time to working with advocates to encourage stronger laws restricting the ownership of wildlife.

While Charla’s family sought permission to sue Connecticut for $150 million for failing to seize the animal, the state claims the commissioner denied this request, stating that the ownership of chimps was not prohibited at the time of the attack.

Sandra, the owner, passed away from an aneurysm in 2010.

Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee showing her appearance 16 years after face transplant interview setting

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

In an interview describing the attack, Sandra said, “He looked at me like, ‘Mom, what did you do?'” referring to her stabbing the animal before she called 911.

“I couldn’t pull him. He was just too strong.”

The transplant, which she underwent in 2011, was the hospital’s third-ever procedure of its kind

Woman walking with assistant in hospital corridor 16 years after face transplant from chimpanzee attack

Image credits: 60 Minutes Australia

Charla received $4 million in compensation from Sandra’s estate, which included $3.4 million in real estate, $331,000 in cash, $140,000 in machinery and equipment, and $44,000 in vehicles.

Her greatest wish is to live in a small country house, away from the hustle and bustle, surrounded by animals and nature.

“I’m out of words to describe how much respect I have for this woman,” one person wrote

Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee showing her appearance 16 years after face transplant, smiling outdoors.

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Woman revealing her appearance 16 years after face transplant following chimpanzee attack, showing recovery progress.

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Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee shows her appearance 16 years after face transplant procedure.

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Tweet praising doctors and surgeons for a successful face transplant on a woman torn apart by a chimpanzee, restoring her appearance.

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Tweet from Julio Murillo replying to a comment about not getting a pet chimp, with 42 likes and timestamp.

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Tweet on chimpanzee behavior warning about dangers, shared by user Darnell discussing risks to humans from wild animals.

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Tweet discussing the risks of owning aggressive pets, referencing a woman whose face was torn by a chimpanzee.

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Woman whose face was torn apart by chimpanzee shows her appearance 16 years after face transplant.

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