A SCHOOLGIRL who almost died after falling out of a tree while collecting conkers took a step closer to recovery this week.

Vanessa Milek, 13, who suffered serious head and internal injuries, went home for the first time last weekend and if all goes well could be home for good in time for her birthday at the end of the month.

The pupil at St Christopher's School, Accrington, fell from a horse chestnut tree in Milnshaw Park on September 14. She broke her wrist, had a kidney removed, her spleen and pancreas damaged and had to be resuscitated.

She was moved from Blackburn Royal Infirmary to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, the day after the accident. Her mum Angela, 40, of Westwood Street, Accrington, has kept a bedside vigil.

And her dad Michael, 40, who lives near Sorrento, Italy, and has not seen her for many years, has travelled over to be with her.

Vanessa's grandmother Gloria, 70, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, said: "Vanessa is a very determined lady. She had trouble walking again and she said she would walk for her dad and she did.

"She was only here for the weekend but she was so happy to be home. She disappeared upstairs to the toilet and didn't come down. But when I sent her grandad, Mike, up to find her, she had put herself to bed and it was only 12.30 in the afternoon.

"The thought of your child nearly dying is bad enough, but your grandchild you never consider. At times, we really thought we would lose her.

"The night it happened we thought she was going to die. We sat on the edge of the bed all night.

"Then a week later her heart stopped, but they brought her around. It was absolutely awful."

She added: "When I spoke to her she said: 'All that for a couple of conkers. I won't be doing it again, gran.'"