In 2015, experienced skydiver Victoria Cilliers narrowly escaped death during a skydive that went horribly wrong. Initially, the incident appeared to be a tragic accident. However, after a thorough two-year investigation and extensive media coverage, it was revealed that her husband, Emile Cilliers, had tampered with her parachute.
The lengthy court process was soul-crushing, as she struggled to comprehend that the man she loved and fathered her children had attempted to kill her. The motive, she discovered, was financial gain from her life insurance, as Emile had accrued significant debt and taken out loans in her name.
Reflecting on her experience, Victoria acknowledges the coercive control Emile exerted over her. Writing her memoire, I Survived: I Married a Charming Man. Then He Tried to Kill Me, helped her recognize the gradual manipulation and mental abuse she endured. Moving forward, her focus remains on rebuilding her life with her children, drawing a line under the past, and striving for a future free from the shadows of her traumatic experiences.
In this video, she shares part of her journey.
Featured image: Victoria Cilliers. Source: YouTube Screenshot / This Morning.
