Woman with rare spinal condition walks for the first time thanks to pioneering

A brave disabled woman who lived lying down to avoid being internally decapitated walks for the first time thanks to pioneering surgery.

Melanie Hartshorn was filmed standing up and taking several steps before being embraced by her thrilled team of physios.

The 34-year-old, who has spent most of her life on her back, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which caused her skull to dislocate from her spine.

She was forced to live with a halo brace 24/7 to keep her in a fixed position to stop her suffering violent seizures which risked her being internally decapitated.