Hockley Road crash: Ella Heels making good recovery

Ella Heels suffered third degree burns and facial injuries on Friday when she was hit by a car on Hockley Road, Rayleigh, shortly after leaving Edward Francis Primary School. 

Her mum, Amy Maria, has revealed she will undergo a skin graft today after having surgery on her eye on Saturday. 

Back to her normal self - Ella Heels and Harvey Wright (Image: Amy Maria)
Amy Maria has also thrown her support behind a petition calling for a crossing assistant to be stationed at the zebra crossing where she was hit by a car. 

Despite the traumatic ordeal, Amy Maria has said that Ella is making excellent progress in her recovery and ultimately, is getting back to her normal self.

She said: “She is doing okay, she has her skin graft tomorrow and she has been in the playroom and to the shop twice.

Recovering - Ella Heels (Image: Amy Maria) “She has been running around and is getting back to her normal self.

“She has looked in the mirror and instead of crying she said, ‘I am beautiful’, she is stronger and these kids are so resilient.

“Other than her face, you wouldn’t think she had been in a crash.”

The mum has also sent a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to a fundraiser to support Ella and the family, which has raised more than £3,500 in just 48 hours. 

However, Amy is committed to ensuring that this never happens to another family and has put her support behind a petition launched to get a school patrol on Hockley Road, near the crossing, launched by the Lib Dems in Rochford. 

She said: “A lot of mums have contacted the county council, and they are up in arms, we have a whole army, Ella’s army.

“We don’t have a safe crossing, and I feel something must be done, I think it is needed.

“Every mum has said to me, two or three times a week that people do not stop, I want a stop light there, I want more there but a school patrol is better than nothing.”

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/rxz3tu-ellas-recovery