A miracle tot who was never expected to survive a horror accident has defied the odds to make a courageous recovery.
Three-year-old Evie Parry plunged 100ft onto a hard floor after she accidentally slipped though a gap in a "glass wall" at the top of a department store escalator.
She suffered an horrendous list of multiple injuries including a broken arm and leg, a ruptured spleen and liver, fractured ribs, a cracked skull and a brain haemorrhage.
But seven months later pretty Evie is being hailed as a walking miracle.
Evie fell head-first through the gap between the top end of an escalator handrail and a re-inforced glass safety wall on the second floor of a Primark store.
The results are awaited of a Health and Safety Inspectorate investigation into the accident that happened in April at the store in Church Street, Liverpool,
Shoppers gasped and screamed in horror as they saw the youngster drop between the escalator and smash onto the tiled floor.
Now - after Evie was released from hospital and settled-in at home in Speke, Liverpool - her mother Heather Parry has broken her silence about the freak accident.
Mother-of-three Heather Parry, 29 says: "I always keep a close an eye on my kids when we are out shopping to make sure they are not misbehaving.
"My mum was next to me while we were browsing and I could see Evie playing quietly walking around a rail of clothes.
"I told her to stay where she was and not to wander off. As I turned around to pick up a top and I heard a scream.
"I just knew it was Evie. I had only turned around for a few seconds, it all happened so quickly.
"I looked over the side of the escalator and she was on the floor about 100ft down.
"I felt sick, I dropped everything and ran down the escalator as fast as I could, it was just a natural instinct.
"There was lots of commotion and people moved out of my way while I was rushing downstairs.
"The security guards were frantically pressing the emergency stop buttons on the escalator so I could run down faster.
"When I saw Evie, a crowd of people had already gathered and trying to help her.
"The staff had rushed around her and an off duty doctor who was in the shop was checking her pulse.
"I was devastated, I didn't want to touch her at first in case I did her more harm. She was just led, not moving, like a doll.
"My mum was trying to calm me down and my son Rowan was crying.
"The ambulance was called and I was ushered into a fire escape while paramedics looked at her.
"I felt numb, I couldn't accept that it was my little girl lying there. Ever since the accident, I haven't been able to leave Evie's side."
Heather recalled how Evie clung to life and praised medical staff at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital for her treatment.
She said: "Evie's injuries were so severe that at first the doctors warned me she may not survive the night.
"I was petrified but refused to believe my baby wouldn't pull through.
"The doctors explained that she had a bleed on the brain and brain damage was likely.
"They were completely honest with me and at one point they warned me that I may have to consider turning off her life support machine.
"But there was no way I was ever going to do that.
"Evie was on the critical list for three weeks and it was absolute agony watching her.
"I refused to leave her bedside. Giving up on her just was not an option.
"After 17 days she was able to breathe unaided, and her eyes flickered open.
"At last, we were given hope that she was on the mend and the relief that I felt when she was taken off the critical list was intense.
"But Evie was staring vacantly into space, with no response when we spoke to her.
"The doctors explained Evie's brain had been set back to that of an 8-month-old and said her recovery could take over two years.
"Inside I panicked that she would remain that way forever but I would have loved and cared for her no matter what.
"A month passed by and Evie was still vacant. Then my 13 year-old nephew Keiran visited, singing songs to Evie and one day she wiggled her bottom along with him.
"A week later, Keiran encouraged Evie to punch him on the nose - she lifted her arm to hit him!
"It was delightful to watch her gradually come back to us.
"A month later, Evie had still not managed to speak and I was teaching her all over again.
"One day as I played with her she suddenly said 'Mamma!' and I was overjoyed.
"We celebrated her fourth birthday in Alder Hey hospital. They threw her a special Princess party for her and she was so full of energy.
"The doctors have and nurses have all been so dedicated and I can't praise them enough for keeping Evie alive.
"But even they have been astounded by how quickly she has come on and the day she was allowed home was my dream come true.
"She has improved in leaps and bounds. All her words are back now, she just takes a while to get them out and in the right order!
"A couple of weeks ago she started at school. It is such a landmark moment for any child but for my Evie, it was so special to watch.
"Although she is unsteady on her feet and is using a walker to get around last week she made ten steps unaided and counted as she went.
"I burst into tears of joy.
"Every time I look at her a smile spreads across my face. I'm so proud of her.
"Every month has made such a big difference. Doctors have warned me she still isn't 100% but I just know she will do it given more time."
Heather revealed that she has not returned to the scene of the accident.
She said: "I haven't been back to the store, I don't think I could face it. The memories are too raw at the moment.
"I just don't want this to happen to anyone else again, it was an accident that should never have happened."
Primark have declined to comment until the outcome of the Health and Safety investigation.
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