Joy At Lorry Crash Girl's Recovery
31 December 2014, 17:05 | Updated: 31 December 2014, 17:09
The parents of a 14-year-old girl injured in Glasgow's bin lorry tragedy have described their joy as she continues to recover.
The third year pupil at Gryffe High School in Houston, Renfrewshire, had just left her mother Jacqueline, 43, and sister Emily, 16, to meet friends when she was hit by the out-of-control lorry.
Her father, Colin Stewart, 48, thanked the medical staff who looked after his daughter and the people who were with her at the time of the accident.
He told the Evening Times newspaper: ''She is strong. She is a brave wee fighter. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost someone.
''We realise how lucky we are and how lucky Alix is.''
The teenager was caught up underneath the vehicle and dragged along Queen Street, suffering broken bones, kidney and liver damage and a severe injury to her ear.
On the evening of the crash she underwent surgery before being moved to a high dependency ward.
Her parents said she managed to sit up for the first time on Monday and was able to get on her feet yesterday.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said a 64-year-old woman also remains in Glasgow Royal Infirmary in a stable condition.
A 57-year-old man, understood to be the driver of the lorry, is also stable at the city's Western Infirmary.
Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died in the accident. Their funerals will be held on Saturday at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish Church in the West Dunbartonshire town.
Primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, and tax worker Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the council truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel in George Square.
The family and friends of Ms Ewing are reported to have said their final farewells to her at a funeral service in the capital yesterday.