A primary schoolgirl told she would never walk again after she was shot two years ago has taken her first steps towards recovery.
'Miracle' seven-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran, has began exercising on a treadmill two years after she was gunned down while playing in her uncle's shop.
Thusha was caught in the crossfire as Gangster Nathaniel Grant, 21, tried to shoot a member of a rival local gang in the store in Stockwell, South London.
Grant was jailed for a minimum of 17 years for crimes described by the judge at the time as 'of the utmost gravity'.
Harrowing footage of the shooting helped send Grant, and his two accomplices Kazeem Kolawole, 19, and Anthony McCalla to prison for 17 years and 14 years respectively.
Now the brave youngster has spoken of her excitement at being able to play with her friends again.
"I can't wait until I can walk properly on my own again," Thusha said.
"I've already taken some steps on the treadmill in my harness with my physio helping me. I want to dance around and play basketball with my friends."
Her overjoyed father, Jeyakumar Ghanasekaram – known as Sasi - said: "Thusha never gave up hope of walking again, even when she was in hospital and had to take over a year off school. She's so hard working and never stops smiling.
"She just wants to play with her friends like other children. She does her physio exercises every day with that dream in mind."
Only last month the family were told Thusha was making an excellent recovery and then two weeks later she was at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire.
Sasi, 38, said: "They lifted her into a harness to support her weight while she put one foot in front of another on a specially designed treadmill. Seeing her walking again, even with that support, was like a miracle."
• You can make a donation to Thusha's fund by BACS payment to Thusa Kamaleswaran, account number 53441075, sort code 20-44-22.