Mum’s praise for emergency services after horse kicks three-year-old daughter in the face

Madeline after plastic surgeons repaired the damage (Image: Archant)

Madeline Mills and her dad Daniel were in a field owned by her grandparents last Saturday when a horse kicked out unexpectedly, catching her in the face.

The three-year-old suffered severe injuries in the accident, losing much of the skin above her eye and suffering nerve damage in what her mum Sarah described as a “horrific accident”.

Madeline was rushed inside by her dad and work started immediately to stop the flow of blood.

But, just a few minutes later, a paramedic from the East of England Ambulance Service arrived and took control, keeping a careful eye on Madeline, who was slipping in and out of consciousness.

A team from Magpas Helimedix were also called but Madeline, a pupil at Littleport Community Pre-School, was declared stable enough to travel to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, in an ambulance – which arrived later.

The following day, plastic surgeons carried out work to repair the damage caused in the incident and Madeline returned home, where, according to mum Sarah, she “hasn’t once complained that her head hurts”.

She said: “She has been so brave, the bravest kid in the world. She has been back out with her Shetland pony, Lucy, already and hasn’t once complained that her head hurts.

“I can’t praise all the emergency services enough, they were outstanding, from the paramedics right through to the doctors at Addenbrooke’s. It was a horrific accident and so close to her eye.

“We were obviously worried that she had been brain damaged because she was slipping in and out of consciousness but when you have a paramedic there who is being so supportive and calm, it really helps. He was amazing.”

Sarah added that Madeline will return to the hospital next month for checks on her progress but said that she is expected to make a full recovery.