Bottle attack victim on the mend

A Bay of Plenty woman smashed in the face with a bottle three months ago faces more surgery this week as the offender remains at large.

Grandmother Mary Loader was hit in the face by the partially full bottle thrown from a passing vehicle as she was taking an early morning walk in Papamoa on April 11.

The attack left her almost blind, with shattered cheekbones and jawbone, a broken nose, gashes on her face, a brain injury and permanently damaged vision.

But the Bay of Plenty Times reported today Mrs Loader was making great progress in her recovery, and the former marathon runner was regularly walking 5km.

Daughter Vicky Loader said her mother was looking forward to being able to eat solid food again after an operation on Friday.

Mrs Loader is staying with Vicky in Hamilton, and working toward returning to live independently at her Papamoa home.

- NZPA