EXCLUSIVEBy John HowardTHE family of a young girl who survived a horrific road accident have thanked doctors for saving their eight-year-old daughter's life.

EXCLUSIVE

By John Howard

THE family of a young girl who survived a horrific road accident have thanked doctors for saving their eight-year-old daughter's life.

Chelsea Clarke is now back at her home in Stowmarket after spending almost two weeks in intensive care in hospital.

But her devoted parents, Avril and Andrew, had feared their daughter would die following the crash as doctors warned them her brain could swell as a result of her injuries.

Chelsea, who attends Combs Ford Primary School in Stowmarket, had gone out cycling on June 4 when she was involved in a collision at 3.45pm with a silver Volkswagen Golf in the town's Ipswich Street.

Mrs Clarke was getting ready to go to work when she learned Chelsea had suffered head injuries and broken a leg, arm, shoulder and finger in the accident.

Her daughter was taken to Ipswich Hospital, before being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Chelsea spent almost two weeks in intensive care, but doctors were amazed by the youngster's remarkable recovery.

Now back at her home in Bridge Street with her family, Chelsea still bears the marks of her accident.

The youngster - who has a twin brother, Daniel, and an elder sister, Lea-Anne, 15, will still have to go for regular check-ups at Addenbrooke's Hospital throughout the year.

Chelsea's parents said they wanted to big thank all the hospital staff who helped with their daughter's recovery.

Mrs Clarke, a waitress at the Oriental Fountain in the town, said: “We want to thank everyone for their help, all the people at the hospital, relatives, friends, neighbours - we want to say a big thank you to everyone.

“People have been fantastic - it's been a hard two weeks for us. Now we want to see a new cycle paths in the town for people to use.”

Mr Clarke, a lorry driver, added: “The doctors said she made a remarkable recovery, she's our miracle girl.

“Now we would like to see a network of cycle paths around the town. I do not want other families to go through what we have been through.”

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said there were already proposals for a traffic scheme that included a cycle lane on Ipswich Street.

“We have consulted the town and district council and are looking at their comments before we have a public consultation, which will hopefully happen before the end of July. We have put in quite a few cycle lanes in Stowmarket already,” she added.

Suffolk police appealed for anyone with information about the accident to contact Pc John Wilson on 01473 613500.

john.howard@eadt.co.uk