A woman who survived being stabbed 29 times by her violent partner believes it’s “a miracle” she is still alive.

Martina (Tina) Turner was stabbed with several knives by Steven Wood and then locked in the house and left to die in a pool of her own blood.

The ex-soldier then tried to kill himself by jumping into the River Tyne, from Redheugh Bridge, but he was rescued by a police boat.

Ms Turner was then found hiding in a cupboard in her Gateshead home with a knife still stuck in her chest, suffering a series of injuries across her arms, hands and body.

One stab wound was inflicted with such force that it fractured her ribs and caused bone to become lodged in her lung, where it remains.

Doctors later told her she was lucky to be alive after the ordeal, on May 21, last year.

Only after the last blow was inflicted did Wood ring his son and confess having done something, “bad”.

Following a trial, at Newcastle Crown Court, in January, 54-year-old Wood was convicted of murder.

Read more: North East abuser convicted of attempted murder after stabbing partner 29 times

He was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars before being eligible to apply for parole when he was sentenced at the court, on Friday (July 22).

Following the sentencing, Ms Turner made the courageous decision to share her harrowing story in the hope of showing the public that domestic abuse can take many forms, and that there is no shame in asking for help.

The 54-year-old survivor said: “I was so besotted and so much in love with Steven.

“We had been living together over a year and had planned the rest of our lives together.

“I now have to live with the knowledge that the man I loved and tried to help, that I believed was a charming, empathetic and, in his words, ‘a soulmate’, could turn into a monster and attack me.

“As I begged for my life, as I told him we could talk about anything, he told me: ‘No, I have to finish you off because I am not going to prison for you.’

“That sentence stays with me. I hear it every day in my head.

“I think it will stay with me the rest of my life.

“I feel so naïve, stupid, so manipulated.”

The pair had been together for two years and lived together for a year in Gateshead before the attack.

But Ms Turner, who has previously worked in education, believes Wood manipulated her caring nature but she ignored the “red flags” suggesting something was not right.

“He was very insecure and needed constant reassurance that I loved him for who he was.

“He had never been violent but could be controlling and paranoid.

“He told me one of his ex-partners left him while he was at work.

“She had just emptied the house and disappeared.

“I wonder now if she left because she was terrified of him.” she said.

During the course of their relationship, controlling Wood told Ms Turner that an ex-partner of his had fallen down the stairs during an argument, but the police would later tell her he had in fact pushed her down the stairs with a metal pole.

After Wood was jailed, Ms Turner was determined to make sure other women heard about her experience and knew it was okay to seek help and support.

She said: “I now realise how miraculous it is I survived my injuries, as some people die from one stab wound and I had 29.

“Steven had every opportunity to ring an ambulance.

“Instead, however, he left me to die with a knife embedded in my chest in a pool of my own blood and was clear-headed enough to lock the doors to prevent anyone from helping me.

“I will celebrate May 21 as my second birthday.

“It wasn’t the day I died, it was the day I survived.

“Looking back, I think I ignored the signs.

“He told me he had bipolar disorder and I helped him, we went to therapy, it’s in my nature to help people but that was my downfall with him, I didn’t see the red flags and didn’t take notice.

“I used to blame myself, but therapy has helped me get me where I am now.

“I have good and bad days, but I know how to survive.

“I am not a victim, I am a survivor.

 “I know now that no one has the right to do that to anyone, it doesn’t matter how ill they are.

“My message to other people who might be in a similar position is please don’t let it get as far I did.

“When someone starts to intimidate you, take it seriously, don’t wait until it’s too late and they attack you.”

Ms Turner continues to receive support from Northumbria Police and a range of other services.

Anyone who has been affected by domestic abuse, or wants to report violence, inappropriate behaviour or any concerns is asked to get in touch immediately using the ‘Tell us Something’ page on the force website.

If anyone has concerns about a partner or a loved one who could be at risk of domestic abuse, they can apply through their local police force to use Clare’s Law, a national information request referral system which checks a person’s record and is completely free and confidential.

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