AN ENTREPRENEUR has beaten the odds to open a new salon for her growing business and now wants to inspire other young hairdressers with her story.

Katie Hogarth left school at the age of 16 with a level 1 in hair and beauty and her mind completely set on becoming a hairdresser even through a near death experience when surgery went wrong, leaving her just hours from death.

The 28-year-old secured a one-day a week placement at the age of 14, while attending Tottington High School, before going on to become an apprentice at Saks Salon in Bolton, while studying hair and beauty at Bury College.

Katie fell ill at the age of 19 after bowel surgery went wrong and doctors told her she had only four hours to live.

She said: “I was given four hours to live – it’s amazing that I’m still here to talk about it.

“I was unconscious in intensive care for three and a half weeks before I just about managed to pull through.

“Bury College were so supportive and stuck by me so I was able to return to my training once I got out.

“I was lucky to survive and went on to open up my own salon in Radcliffe at the age of 21.”

Katie opened Hair Solutions in Radcliffe, with two members of staff offering hair and beauty services before falling pregnant with her son, one-year-old Kalvin.

She said: “I ended up giving birth to Kalvin at 25 weeks and stayed in hospital with him until he was strong enough to come out.

“The business carried on running and my focus was on my baby.

“I never thought a year on I’d be in this position with a growing business, opening my second salon.”

Katie, who now lives in Crumpsall with her partner Anthony Leonard, aged 28, has relocated Hair Solutions to a bigger premises in Bank Street, Walshaw, where she hopes to take on four new members of staff.

She added: “I just hope I can inspire young girls to always stick at what they want to do. I’ve been through a lot but I’ve managed to get this far and love running my business.

“I didn’t leave school with the best results but I loved hairdressing and I would definitely encourage more girls to go down that route because as long as you work hard, you can be successful.”

Anyone interested in working at Hair Solutions should contact: 07716390843.