The 16-year-old girl who survived a deadly axe attack that claimed the lives of three of her family, has absolutely no recollection of the horrific incident.
Marli van Breda, who used to live with her family in Perth, Western Australia, was released from hospital last month after she was struck several times on the head and her throat was slashed during an attack in January.
The attack took place in her family's South African home on January 27 and Marli is now suffering from retrograde amnesia.
Although memory loss is not uncommon after a traumatic ordeal, doctors say the former Presbyterian Ladies' College student may never remember what happened on the fateful day she tragically lost her father, mother and eldest brother.
Her extended family revealed in a statement on Sunday that, although Marli can't recall the brutal murders, she is able to walk and talk - and still has her sense of humour.
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Marli van Breda, 16, suffered severe brain damage when she was struck several times on the head in her family's South African home in January but has no memory of the horrendous attack
'That she survived the attack is a miracle and her physical recovery continues to astound those close to her,' the family said in their statement according to a News Corp report.
'She is able to walk, communicates well and, surprisingly, given everything that has happened, has retained her sense of humour.'
'A long road of rehabilitation lies ahead as she learns to compensate for certain neurocognitive difficulties resulting from her traumatic brain injury.
'In some cases the situation remains for life,' her family said via their statement.
Marli has been discharged from the rehabilitation care centre where she had been treated over the past few weeks for the severed jugular and brain damage.
Henri van Breda (back left) escaped the attack while his father Martin, 55 (back right), mother Teresa, 54 (front right), and brother Rudi, 22 (back centre) were killed. Marli, 16 (front left), suffered severe head and throat injuries
The attack claimed the lives of her mother Teresa, 54, father Martin, 55, and older brother Rudi, 22.
Marli's other brother Henri, 20, escaped with light injuries and rang police to report the deaths at the Stellenbosch home, east of Cape Town.
Family spokesman Martin Coetzee said at the time that Marli will undergo occupational and physical therapy at the rehabilitation clinic.
While her health had improved, Marli wasn't able to make a complete police statement regarding the attack during her stint at rehabilitation because she wasn't able to talk for long periods.
Chilling: An audio recording between Henri (right, pictured with brother Rudi) and emergency services after his family were hacked to death with an axe, revealed the 20-year-old appeared to giggle during the call
Marli was transferred to a rehabilitation clinic on Tuesday after spending six weeks at Vergelegen Medi-Clinic in Somerset West, just outside of Cape Town
According to reports out last month, visitors had been banned from visiting the teenager's hospital room in a bid to keep her surviving brother away.
'They fear she might go into shock, or will be traumatised further if she sees him,' a source told The Sunday Times newspaper.
Marli has reportedly been crying when she sees photos of her parents and brother.
'It is heartbreaking to see tears rolling down her cheeks,' a person close to the family said.
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ShareIt emerged in February that an audio recording of the emergency phone call made by Henri, obtained by eNews Channel Africa , seems to reveal him 'giggling' as he explains the details of the bloody massacre.
'What kind of injuries are there?' a woman can be heard asking Henri, who responds: 'my family and me were attacked by a guy with an axe.'
When asked if they were unconscious, he responded, 'yes, and bleeding from the head', before what sounds like a faint chuckle is heard.
A cleaner who worked for one of the van Breda's neighbours saw the young man, covered in blood, using his phone outside the house shortly after the attack.
Deceased: Martin (left) and wife Theresa (right) both died at their home in Stellenbosch - east of Cape Town
Rudi (pictured left and right) has been remembered by friends as a keen sportsman. His younger brother Henri is currently living with his uncle
The van Breda family had just moved back to South Africa in June after six years in Perth, Western Australia
The young man's mental health has been under scrutiny since News24 reported he had undergone brain scans at an Australian hospital in 2014. However the results were negative and no further testing occurred.
A doctor who examined the young man following the attack revealed his injuries were self-inflicted. He was also reportedly addicted to crystal methamphetamine, locally known in South Africa as tik, and his allowance was cut off before his family were attacked.
Henri has been living with his uncle, Her Breda, since the attack and has been receiving counselling.
His uncle denied rumours the police wanted to keep him away from a private memorial service held for his deceased family - insisting he was simply being hidden from the media's gaze.
Popular: Rudi Van Breda was popular with his friends at Trinity College and the University of Melbourne
Separated siblings: Rudi (left) was killed during the attack, while Marli (right) remains in a critical but stable condition in a South African hospital
A close family friend described the van Bredas as 'a perfect family'
'For obvious reasons Henri is very heartbroken, and we will support him as the family,' he was quoted in The Times.
'We as a family are here for him, we will not disappoint him... I promised Henri I won't drop him.'
No one has been charged over the attack on the family and Marli has a round-the-clock police guard.
The family were based in Perth and the Sunshine Coast in Australia, before returning to South Africa in mid-2014.
The van Breda family lived on the estate of the De Zalze Golf Club (pictured) about 50km east of Cape Town
Police leaving he De Zalze housing estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where three members of the van Breda family were killed and two injured on January 27
Forensics expert retrieves a flashlight from a police vehicle at the upmarket De Zalze housing estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where three members of the van Breda family were killed
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