Traumatic events prompted these inspiring women to change the course of their lives – they tell new their incredible stories
WORDS: ALI GRAVES
Attacks made Sarah rethink
Former lawyer Sarah Aspinall, 47, lives in Hertfordshire with her husband Omar, 49, and her two children. On her 30th birthday in New York she was mugged at gunpoint, before another terrifying attack took place back home in London. The events changed her life and she now runs her own dance school, Breaking Ballet.
Celebrating my 30th birthday should have been a happy memory to cherish forever, but it’s one that still holds terrifying memories. It also changed the course of my life forever.
I went to New York for a three-night milestone birthday celebration with my bestie. We had a great hotel and we did the Sex And The City tour – we just had a really great time. On our last day, we were a bit hungover so went for an early dinner and decided to walk home.
It was a dark October evening, around 6.30pm. I became aware of someone saying something to my friend and realised that she had stopped.
I looked up and he was holding a gun up at us. He was very jittery, had his hood up, and was clearly high. He demanded our money but we didn’t have any – he didn’t believe us.
My friend scrambled together $1.50 and a Macy’s shopping card but I got quite angry. I didn’t want to empty my bag because my passport was in there.
He didn’t believe I had nothing and turned the gun to my head at point-blank range. I got my wallet out to show him I was being genuine. He was agitated, then made us turn our backs to him. Doing so slowly, we held hands and really believed our time was up.
We both closed our eyes, when suddenly he changed his mind and told us to turn back around and walk – he said, “Keep walking, and don’t look back.” Luckily, this meant in the direction of our hotel. Within 30 seconds we were inside, running to reception to call the police.
The whole experience was terrifying – they never caught the guy. I’ve never felt safe in America and I’ve never been back since.
There was trouble at home, too, though. Still jet-lagged from New York, I finished work and walked my usual route home through the ticket offices at the Tower of London when I spotted a group of young guys. I instantly didn’t feel right but it was too late.
One grabbed hold of me and pushed me up against the
