More than 30 years after leaving her husband and three children for a Masai warrior she met on holiday, Cheryl Thomasgood says she is living with deep regret.
In 1994, while visiting Kenya, Cheryl fell in love with Daniel Lekimencho, who performed traditional dances for tourists. Within weeks, she ended her marriage and moved to live with him in a remote village. Her decision shocked the public and drew intense media attention.
The couple later returned to the UK, married, and had a daughter, Misti. But Cheryl says Daniel changed after arriving in Britain. She claims he became focused on money and material comforts, and their relationship grew tense. She began to question whether he loved her or saw her as a way to escape poverty. The marriage ended in 1999.
Now 65 and living quietly in Somerset, Cheryl says her biggest regret is the pain caused to her children. She admits she was struggling with trauma and depression at the time and believes she was trying to escape her own unhappiness.
Although she remains proud of her children and close to them today, she says the instability of her past decisions still weighs heavily on her. Her advice to others is simple: think carefully before making life-changing choices in the heat of emotion.