Khia Green, pictured with mum Georgina, was injured by a syringe needle left on a train seat

by Hayley Robinson

Six months of hell has finally come to an end for the family of a young girl who was cut by a hypodermic needle sticking out of a train seat.

Khia Green had to undergo a series of blood tests to see if she had contracted HIV following the incident in December.

Now, after months of torment, the seven-year-old has finally been given the all-clear.

Her mum Georgina Green received the good news two days before she was also told her daughter had not contracted Hepatitis B or C either.

The youngster, who was six at the time, had just boarded the Southeastern train at Sittingbourne station with her mum, sister Kiana and cousin Chantay when the needle pierced her right thigh even though she was wearing jeans.

The Kemsley Primary School pupil was immediately taken to St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster, where she had an injection against Hepatitis B and the first sample of blood taken.

More was taken in February and April with the final blood tests carried out last month.

Georgina, 42, of Ypres Drive, Kemsley, said: "The wait was awful but we got through it.

"It was hard watching her cry and go through all of that but it's all done now.

"She asked me the other day 'do I need to have anymore blood taken?' I just said 'no you don't'.

"We’re just relieved and so pleased it all came back clear. She was very, very lucky.

"I would urge anyone who uses a needle, either for medicinal or other purposes, to make sure they dispose of them in the right way so nobody else has to go through what we have been through."

Southeastern trains sent a bunch of flowers to the family home the day after the accident. An internal investigation was also launched.

A spokesman for the train company said: "We’re pleased to hear that little Khia is well and we realise this must have been a distressing time for her and her family. This incident was something that we took very seriously.

"Generally train carriages are cleaned overnight before entering service. We also have cleaners who will walk through the trains to pick up rubbish at the end of journeys. But unfortunately it's not possible for us to control what members of the public leave on trains."