The world’s longest-surviving face transplant patient has died, 12 years after groundbreaking surgery to rebuild her features

The world’s longest-surviving face transplant patient has died, 12 years after groundbreaking surgery to rebuild her features after a murder attempt by her husband.

Connie Culp, who was the first recipient of a face transplant in the United States, died of an unspecified infection unrelated to her transplant. She was 57.

“Connie was an incredibly brave, vibrant woman and an inspiration to many,” said Dr Frank Papay, chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute in Ohio.

“She was a great pioneer and her decision to undergo a sometimes daunting procedure is an enduring gift for all of humanity,” he added.

Mrs Culp was shot in 2004 by Thomas Culp, her husband, who, thinking he had killed her, turned his shotgun on himself.