A GIRL of four is recovering in hospital after her liver was severed in a freak accident. The family of Katie Farmer say she would have died but for the skill of a surgeon and staff at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Katie was left fighting for life after she was kicked by a horse at stables in Whitstable. Her grandmother, Anne Oliver, said: "We were told she would have died had she had to go to an A&E department in Ashford or Margate. She simply would not have made the journey." Thousands of people in east Kent are fighting to prevent the A&E unit at Canterbury from closing down.

Mrs Oliver stressed: "The surgeon told us that another five minutes and that would have been it. We owe her life to Richard Collins and the staff at Canterbury. It must keep its own A&E unit otherwise people like Katie will die."

The accident happened when Katie and her mother Tracey, who live in Wickhambreaux, near Canterbury, visited Tracey's mother Mrs Oliver at Benacre riding stables at Whitstable which she runs.

One of the horses, Milly, kicked out at another horse and Katie, who was in the way, was hit and Mrs Oliver belives, trodden on. The family took Katie by car to Kent and Canterbury's A&E department where Katie "died" on arrival.

Mrs Oliver said: "A nurse took her from us and ran shouting for resus. Within seconds she was surrounded by staff and resuscitated. Everyone was marvellous - they moved so quickly.

"Once she had been brought back to life they rushed her to theatre and Mr Collins saved her life again by performing an operation on her liver. He stabilised her condition so she was able to be transferred to King's College Hospital in London."

Katie had another operation on her liver on Monday at King's College and is now recovering in its intensive care unit. Mrs Oliver said the incident had really brought home to the family how vital it was to keep a full A/E department at Kent and Canterbury.

"Katie would be dead now, it is that simple," Mrs Oliver said. "When I think about what is being planned for Kent and Canterbury it is like a nightmare that you hope you will wake from soon."