'˜Thank you for saving our daughter's life'

Elisha Hills-Steedman suffered a fractured skull when she was hit by the car as she walked along the pavement on Bourges Boulevard in the city centre last month.

The youngster - who also suffers from KBG Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder - spent two nights in hospital, before starting her recovery at home in Muskham, Bretton.

This week she met Simon Bryan, Adrian Hobbs and Adam Hern - three of the medics from The East of England Ambulance Service - who were on the scene first and helped save her life.

Mum Michelle Steedman (40) said when the incident happened, she thought Elisha had been killed. She said: I thought she was not going to make it.

“They (the ambulance teams) were amazing. They arrived so quickly, and they saved her life.

“They were trying to keep us calm, but they got Elisha into the ambulance so quickly.”

Dad Andy Steedman (45) added: “We were so grateful. It is a miracle she survived. We could not have asked for a better service. They are amazing.”

Michelle suffered injuries in the incident as well, and she said: “One of them came up to me, and I was telling them to forget about me, and look after Elisha. They were telling me to sit down while they worked, and keeping me calm.”

Mr Hern, an emergency medical technician (EMT) said: “When we arrived on the scene, we knew we had to act fast. Sometimes we have a bit more time, but Simon gave me ‘the look’ which meant we had to work fast.

“We don’t always get to see what happens after we take patients, so it is nice to be able to meet Elisha and her family again.”

Mr Bryan, also an EMT said: “When we arrive at jobs like this, you click into another gear and your training takes over. It is not autopilot, but you know what you have to do.”

Mr Hern also paid tribute to other members of the medical team, including paramedic Nick Montgomery and EMT Heather de Gaunza.

Michelle said Elisha was now recovering well at home - but she was still feeling the effects.

She said: “Elisha is back at school now - she does not remember anything.

“I still don’t like going down main roads, especially Bourges Boulevard. I will go a longer route to avoid it.

“I was overtaken last week by an ambulance, and I had to stop and cry, because of what happened.”

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident and drug driving. He has been bailed to reappear at Thorpe Wood Police Station on Sunday, April 9.