A youngster who doctors feared might never walk again after a serious road accident in which her father died has amazed everyone with her recovery.

Just two months after the horrific smash in which she suffered terrible injuries, little Alice Mattick is already starting to walk and planning a sponsored swim.

Doctors feared the seven-year-old could lose her legs after the accident near Leeds in June on the way to a friend's barbecue in York.

Her father Robert, 39, was killed instantly when his van crashed into a bridge. Alice and her brother Harry were passengers.

Alice suffered serious head and leg injuries - including losing parts of her thigh bones after the bones broke through her skin - and spent time in intensive care. Harry broke an arm and a leg. Mum Mrs Kate Mattick, 42, of Pasture Lane, Clayton, said: "It took her just seven weeks to get on her feet again, and she'll be doing the sponsored swim in the next couple of weeks.

"Her legs are a bit stiff but it's coming.

"She's come such a long way in such a short time. She's shown all this bravery and spirit - she's really amazing.

"She walks around singing 'I'm a walking miracle' and she is."

Peter Millner, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St James's Hospital, Leeds, who operated on Alice, said: "We thought she might lose her legs but we were able to repair the damage.

"We fixed them with a variety of metal implants, screws, plates and pins and to our delight and amazement she has grown a lot of new bone in the missing gaps and her knees are moving very well indeed.

"She's done miraculously well - far better than we would have hoped possible."

The proceeds from Alice's swim will help buy much-needed new instruments for the Queensbury Scout Marching Brass Band which she, her mum and her two brothers and sister play in and which has been a lifeline since Mr Mattick's death.

Alice, Harry, five, and 12-year-old sister Rosy play the trumpet. Mrs Mattick plays the tenor saxophone and 14-year-old Jim plays the euphonium.

Proceeds from Alice's sponsored swim will go towards the £250 the family are trying to raise.

That is because each band member needs to raise £50 for the contribution the band needs to make towards a lottery grant for new instruments.

Alice returned to Clayton C of E First School in her wheelchair this week.

She also uses it for band practice meetings which she has just started attending again and where she is re-learning to play the trumpet after losing her front teeth in the accident.

Since the crash Alice and Harry have been raising money to buy toys for the ward where they were treated at St James's.

Of her children Mrs Mattick added: "They are really doing well. I'm very proud of all of them."

Anyone who would like to sponsor Alice is asked to contact 01274 818141

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