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A 13-year-old hero has spoken of the moment she was rushed to a London hospital after shielding her little sister from being hit by a lorry.
Charlee Tinker from Shepway jumped in front of seven-year-old Tiffany, in Sutton Road, Maidstone, on Tuesday.
New Line Learning Academy pupil Charlee was heading to Morrisons with Tiffany and another sister Rheagan, 11.
She said she saw the HGV coming, but it happened too quickly to warn her sisters.
Tiffany would have been struck first had quick-thinking Charlee not thrown her arm around her to take the impact instead.
Sarah Griffiths, a community involvement worker for Greenfields Children’s Centre in Rutland Way, was one of the first on the scene.
She held Charlee’s head while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
Miss Griffiths said: “She is a hero. As I spoke to her all she wanted to know was how her little sister was.
“She is the bravest girl I’ve ever met and it was one of the most selfless actions I’ve ever seen.”
The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance landed in Queen Elizabeth Square, behind Morrisons, but its paramedic crew stayed with her as she was taken to Kings College Hospital by road.
Her injuries were not as bad as initially feared and she was diagnosed with concussion and bruising.
Tiffany was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury and was treated for cuts and bruises.
Parents Raymond Tinker and Lisa Turner wanted to thank everyone who helped their girls.
“She is the bravest girl I’ve ever met and it was one of the most selfless actions I’ve ever seen” - Sarah Griffiths
Mr Tinker said: “My first thoughts were panic. When something like this happens you think the worst.
“I know the girls are very road smart. I don’t know how this could have happened.
“I’m very proud of how they handled the situation, though, and am grateful to everyone who helped.”
An investigation is ongoing.
