Cambridge first for girl nearly killed by anorexia

Mandy Kaye was awarded a starred first-class degree six years after first being offered a place at Homerton College, Cambridge.

The 25-year-old from Southgate was forced to delay her place, then take time out for treatment for the illness that saw her weight drop to below five stone.

Miss Kaye, who was given only hours to live, said: "This is a new beginning and I can't see myself turning back."

She was first offered a place to read geography and educational studies in 2002 but deferred for a year because of her illness. She took up the offer in 2003, but within a month weighed less than five stone. She was treated in hospital for a month and not allowed to return to Cambridge until two years later.

She said: "I would drink coffee all day, then at midnight I'd have a handful of cherry tomatoes and two apples. I was terrified of food."

Describing her time in hospital she said: "The doctor said I was so ill I could drop dead in the night. My parents arrived and seeing my mum's face was my wake-up call. I finally realised how sick I was and felt determined to get better."

Miss Kaye, who is 5ft3in, is still almost a stone below her target weight of eight stone. She said she had been convinced she would only scrape a pass at university but she achieved the highest grade. She said: "I was shocked. I cried with joy. Now I'm just concentrating on the future - I have plans to become a therapist."

* Mandy was treated at the Capio Nightingale clinic in London. For more details visit www.nightingalehospital.co.uk or call 0800 783 0594