Homeless Ukrainian loses both legs due to frostbite

A 23-year-old Ukrainian woman has had both her legs amputated after suffering frostbite while sleeping rough in Belfast.

The woman had been forced to leave her home in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, after being laid off by a meat processing plant just before Christmas.

She is believed to have spent the following week living in the open air close to vacant houses before contacting other immigrants, who immediately sought medical help for her.

The local Simon Community in Belfast has warned that the woman was just one of many immigrants encountering difficulties with accommodation in the city, particularly when their employment fell through.