The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
‘Thank you for saving our daughter’s life’
Mum feared 10-year-old Elisha had been killed when they were hit by car
Parents of a 10-year-old girl seriously injured when she was hit by a car described the paramedics who saved her life as ‘miracle workers’ as they were re-united for the first time. Elisha Hills-Steedman suffered a fractured skull when she was hit by the car as she walkedalongthepavementon 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, beforestartingherrecoveryat home in Muskham, Bretton.
This week she met Simon Bryan, Adrian Hobbs and AdamHern - three of the medics fromTheEastofEnglandAmbulance 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 uscalm, buttheygotElisha into the ambulance so quickly.”
Dad Andy Steedman (45) added: “We were so grateful. It is amiracleshesurvived. We could not have asked for a bet- terservice. Theyareamazing.”
Michelle suffered injuries in theincident as well, andshe said: “One of them came up to me, and I was telling them to forget aboutme, andlookafter Elisha. Theyweretellingmeto sit down while they worked, and keeping me calm.”
Mr Hern, an emergency medical technician ( EMT) said: “Whenwearrivedonthe scene, we knew we had to act fast. Sometimes we have a bit moretime, butSimongaveme ‘the look’ whichmeantwehad 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, youclickintoanother gear and your training takes over. It is notautopilot, butyou know what you have to do.”
Mr Hern also paid tribute toothermembersofthemedical team, includingparamedic 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’tlikegoingdown 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 dangerousdriving, leaving the scene of an accident and drug driving. He has been bailed to reappear at Thorpe Wood Police Station onSunday, April 9.