What had failed
The USB flash drive could not be accessed through its damaged connection. That placed the immediate fault between the storage electronics and the computer rather than proving that the memory contents themselves had disappeared.
The device needed hardware attention before any file-copying claim could be made. Repeatedly flexing or holding a damaged connector in position would have risked further damage to pads or traces.
The recovery path
The USB connection was rebuilt carefully enough to restore communication with the drive. Once access was stable, the data was copied away from the repaired source and written to replacement flash storage.
The job took approximately two days. The archived charge was £120 including return media. Current USB recovery prices depend on whether the fault is limited to the connector or extends into the controller or memory.
The result
The recovery completed successfully. The repaired connection was a means to obtain the copy, not a promise that the original flash drive had become dependable long-term storage.
What this case teaches
A broken plug can be recoverable, but stop moving it as soon as the connection becomes intermittent. Do not glue the connector or repeatedly force it into a port. Keep the complete device, including any loose pieces, and tell the laboratory whether it was bent, struck or exposed to liquid.