SHE’S the Andover woman whose incredible story of recovery from the clutches of anorexia to champion bodybuilder has captured the hearts of people across the world.

Nicola King’s dramatic journey from near-death to glory in the recent Pure Elite’s UK championships has been shared far-and-wide since being reported on some of the country’s biggest news websites.

And the 24-year-old, who featured in the national press and on the BBC this week, says she has been “overwhelmed” by the reaction.

Talking to the Advertiser, Miss King, who currently lives in Charlton, said: “It’s been amazing. The support has been absolutely incredible.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed and I’ve had to take a little bit of time out because it’s been a bit much at times. I want to continue to speak out, but one step at a time.”

The former Harrow Way student’s story began aged 16 when she began counting calories.

Her lack of eating began to spiral out of control, eventually reaching a point where she would refuse to eat for up to six weeks on end.

Miss King’s hair fell out, her periods stopped and she was in constant pain.

At her worst she weighed just four stone.

Miss King was eventually taken to an intensive care unit in hospital where she was heavily sedated and tube fed.

She said: “My body was starting to shut down.

“On two occasions, the doctors told my parents to say goodbye. They said I wasn’t going to live.

“I wanted to die and I felt physically dead.”

Miss King was eventually discharged from hospital six months later, in June, 2012.

Her road to recovery began when she started going to the gym soon after, before getting involved in bodybuilding in 2015.

Now she weighs a healthy 8st 13lbs and eats a balanced diet to keep her strength up.

And thanks to her bodybuilding, she can dead-lift up to 40kg.

She said: “Going to the gym has given me focus and something I can get up for in the morning.

“It is my therapy and escape and it’s a liberating feeling to push your body to the extreme but in a positive and healthy way.

“It has been a long road since then but for the first time, I am proud of myself.”

Miss King, who recently left her job as a waitress at the Wyke Down pub, says she now plans to move into a career in fitness.

She also hopes to get involved in campaigning to raise awareness about anorexia.

She said: “I still struggle every day. It’s like living with an abusive partner in your head.

“I want to be able to help others because being there myself, I know just how scary it is.”