Kalynda Davis' arrest with her then boyfriend in China at just 22 carrying $40MILLION worth of ice rocked Australia. But after being given a second chance, she’s turned her life around. This is what she did next.
- Kalynda Davis' life has returned to normal after she spent a month in China jail
- She was arrested at Guangzhou International Airport on drugs charges in 2014
- Davis was with travel companion Peter Gardner, who remains behind bars
- Since her release Davis' has a partner, a baby and works as massage therapist
After allegedly being caught with 30kg of methamphetamine at a Chinese airport, Sydney woman Kalynda Davis has managed to turn her life around.
Ms Davis was just 22 when she found herself in a filthy women's prison in Guangzhou, accused of trying to traffic drugs in 2014.
Like Australian actor Karm Gillespie, the young blonde woman faced execution by firing squad if found guilty.
But her ordeal was cut short after then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and a family lawyer negotiated her release.
The confidential talks convinced Chinese officials of Ms Davis' innocence as she had no knowledge about the suitcase contents.
Six years on, Ms Davis' life appears to have returned to normal.
The 27-year-old has a new partner, a baby and is working as a remedial massage therapist.
Sydney woman Kalynda Davis (pictured) has manged to turn her life around after allegedly being caught with 30kg of methamphetamine at a Chinese airport
The 27-year-old has a new partner, a baby and is working as a remedial massage therapist
Her Facebook page is filled with happy family photos.
She proudly showed off her pregnant belly as she posed in a white lace dress with her partner electrician Eugene Pollock, in November last year.
Ms Davis and Mr Pollock are seen smiling in a number of pictures together.
The images are a far cry from what her life could have looked like if she was convicted.
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Ms Davis was arrested at Guangzhou International Airport in southern China on November 8, along with boyfriend Peter Gardner, 25, and the pair were accused of smuggling 'ice' - the drug crystal methamphetamine.
They had met in dating app Tinder weeks earlier and decided to take a last-minute trip to China before heading back home.
Her Facebook page is filled with happy family photos (pictured: Kalynda Davis with partner Eugene Pollock)
Mr Gardner, who Ms Davis met on dating app Tinder, remains imprisoned in China
A New Zealand citizen, Mr Gardner had lived in Australia for some time, having completed his apprenticeship at a western Sydney construction firm.
Mr Gardner remains in a Chinese jail facing the death penalty.
The negotiations to have Ms Davis secretly released came when Australia had a good relationship and a free-trade agreement with China.
Australian former TV actor Karm Gillespie was sentenced to death in China on Saturday for smuggling 7.5kg of meth in his luggage at a Hong Kong airport in 2013
But the relationship has eroded, with tensions growing following Australia calling for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus.
Since then, Karm Gillespie has been sentenced to death in China on drug-smuggling charges.
Gillespie was detained seven years earlier but his case had not been made public by Beijing, Australian authorities or his family.
China's foreign ministry on Monday said Gillespie's sentence had 'nothing to do with relations between the two countries', and said the Australian would have his 'lawful rights protected'.
China will 'facilitate consular visits from the Australian side', foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing, although he added he was unsure if China's current virus containment measures might hinder this.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said on Sunday that Australians 'shouldn't necessarily' see Gillespie's sentence as further retaliation by China.
Ms Davis and Mr Gardner met overseas on dating app Tinder late last year, before deciding to take a last minute-trip to China
Ms Davis' ordeal was cut short after then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and a family lawyer negotiated her release
The negotiations to have Ms Davis secretly released came when Australia had a good relationship and a free-trade agreement with China
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