A toddler made a remarkable recovery after she was hit by a van and taken to a specialist London hospital.
Medics feared the two-year-old had suffered life-threatening injuries when her condition took a turn for the worse.
She was transferred to Guy's Hospital, but to the surprise of everyone was back on her feet and talking just hours later.
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The youngster was with her parents crossing Susan's Road, at the junction of Tideswell Road, Eastbourne, when she was struck.
Her mother and father, who escaped uninjured, took her to Eastbourne District General Hospital two hours after the accident at 5.20pm on Friday.
Concerned nurses alerted police who began a hunt for the van and its woman driver as the toddler's condition appeared to deteriorate and she was taken by ambulance to Guy's.
Officers said the parents were foreign, making initial inquiries into what happened difficult due to the language barrier.
Sgt Steve Dessouki-Harman, of Polegate road policing unit, said: "The vehicle braked and skidded but it is believed it was a low speed impact.
"She was taken to Eastbourne Hospital, where she became unresponsive, so she was taken to Guy's Hospital in London by ambulance.
"She was sedated and ventilated and had a CT scan but no injuries were found.
"By 4am on Saturday she appeared to have made a full recovery and was sat up talking to her dad.
"She is a very lucky girl."
The van driver, believed to be from the Eastbourne area, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident.
She was released on police bail.
Police are appealing for witnesses and would also like to trace a taxi driver who was in the area at the time.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Posted by: Roy Hills, Heathfield on 12:12pm Mon 12 May 08
This was just waiting to happen. As you exit Tideswell Road your whole attention has to be to your left (it's one way) to see round the cars parked in Susans Road to avoid hitting anything coming at a good clip up the road towards you. As you're doing that it's quite usual for pedestrians going to the Arndale Centre to calmly amble across in front of you to your right. It's happened to me loads of times.
This was just waiting to happen. As you exit Tideswell Road your whole attention has to be to your left (it's one way) to see round the cars parked in Susans Road to avoid hitting anything coming at a good clip up the road towards you. As you're doing that it's quite usual for pedestrians going to the Arndale Centre to calmly amble across in front of you to your right. It's happened to me loads of times.
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