A KINGSWINFORD teenager struck down by a massive brain haemorrhage has flown out to America's Sunshine State to swim with dolphins to try and aid her recovery.

Elle-Mae Davidson, whose life changed in an instant in January 2013 when she was just 16, was due to start dolphin therapy in Florida yesterday (Tuesday July 7).

The teenager, who spent five weeks in critical care, seven months in high dependency and then 16 months in a children's rehabilitation centre, will be working with the dolphins for the next two weeks at the Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo, Florida Keys.

Relatives had been wanting to take Elle-Mae to the rehabilitation centre for some time and they were finally able to make the trip thanks to support from Blakelands Country House, near Stourbridge, and Wolverhampton-based national charity, Promise Dreams, which aims to make dreams come true for seriously and terminally ill children and their families.

After hearing about Elle and her family's wish to take her to America - Blakelands owner Paul Morgan hosted an afternoon tea free of charge on June 4 which raised £750 towards the trip; and Promise Dreams donated £2,000 to help make the family's dream come true.

Elle-Mae's mum Leah Davidson said: “We want to thank everyone who has made this trip possible and share with them the joy it has brought Elle.

"We are so excited about the dolphin therapy and we are really looking forward to seeing how she responds to the therapies over the next two weeks.”

Elle-Mae was a happy and healthy teenager with her sights set on studying at Oxbridge before she suffered the haemorrhage.

After tragedy struck, she endured several major brain operations and at one stage was given no chance of survival but she clung to life and her family were finally able to bring her home earlier this year.

Family and friends, affectionately dubbed 'Elle's Angels', have been fundraising tirelessly to help the teenager's parents give her as many chances as possible to get better.

A further fundraising event - an Angels and Dreams Ball - is set to take place on September 4 at Wolverhampton's Park Hall Hotel.

Tickets cost £45 per head and include a three-course meal, live music and bacon sandwiches at midnight.

For more details or to book tickets call 07967 123430.