THE daughter of a married couple who were run over by a BMW has paid tribute to her mother after she died in hospital.

Actress Chrissie Chanel’s parents Carol and Julian Littler were knocked down on Sunday night by a black BMW X5 on the A259 Marine Drive, Rottingdean, not far from their home.

Mrs Littler, 69, from Lenham Road West, Rottingdean, had life threatening injuries and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in a critical condition.

It was hoped she would pull through but the heartbreaking decision was made to turn off her life support machine.

Ms Chanel said: “Unfortunately for my beautiful Mum she had a fractured spine, meaning she would never be able to dance again.

“Bruising all over her brain – and when I got to the hospital they were rushing her to theatre to operate because they thought she may have internal bleeding.

“I shouted ‘I love you’ as they wheeled her past carefully.

“During the procedure her brain began to swell where it was bruised and she was taken to neurology intensive care where she was fitted with life support and something to measure the swelling in the brain.

“Over 24 hours we gave her a chance to see if she was still in there and able to respond but her pupils did not react to light which is not a good sign, among other things of course.

“The doctors found it best if we turned off the life support and let her die on her own terms. They called it unsurvivable brain damage.

“Mum had always said she wanted to dance until her dying day, and told us if she ever wasn’t all there in the head she would prefer to die gracefully and not be kept alive with a half life.”

Mr Littler, 61, sustained serious head injuries in the collision at 9pm on Sunday and was also taken to hospital. He was fitted with a neck brace and is currently staying with his daughter.

In the same heartfelt public tribute posted on Facebook, Ms Chanel said: “She touched the lives of so many of you and I am so sorry for your loss but I am so grateful for all of your support during this shocking time.

“Please know she wouldn’t have felt any pain and was instantly unconscious on impact.

“She was my best friend, my world, and I am so lucky to have been blessed with 26 years with her.

“I will try to spread as much love and joy as she did and live my life to its full like she wanted me too.

“Sweet dreams Mum. I love you. As do we all.”

The post was liked more than 1,000 times and hundreds of people paid their own tributes online.

The male driver, a 40-year-old man from Newhaven, who was uninjured, was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs, driving without due care and attention and driving without a licence.

He has been released under investigation.