AN EIGHT-year-old girl lost four toes following an horrific accident as she waited for the Sandbanks ferry.

Little Lucy Scott's right foot was crushed after it was trapped in a link of the large chain running from the ferry to the Studland shoreline.

The injuries to her toes were so serious doctors had to operate to remove most of them. There is concern that she may also lose her remaining toe.

Her stepfather Mike Reed said: "She's an active girl. She used to play football for her local team and always wins things at school sports day. That won't happen anymore.

"She's also a very strong swimmer but she says she is not going to swim any more because she doesn't want anyone to see her foot."

Lucy, a pupil at Stourfield School in Southbourne, had been out for the day with friends when she got out of the car as they waited to get on the ferry at Studland.

Mike and Lucy's mum Sally, of New Park Road, rushed to Poole Hospital where they discovered the true extent of her injuries.

In the first two weeks after the accident, Lucy was so traumatised she couldn't eat and lost almost a third of her body weight.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on Lucy's first weekend home since the accident on August 4, Mike said: "She was stood on the chain and when the ferry came in the chain moved. Her foot got trapped in the link.

"Anyone could stand there and do the same thing as there's no one to stop you."

Lucy returned to hospital yesterday and was due to go to Salisbury District Hospital for a skin graft. She will require intensive physiotherapy.

Sally said: "I would like to see the chains covered over in some way completely so this cannot happen again"

The couple would like to thank a cyclist who helped Lucy and gave her a jumper to keep her warm.

Richard Pellew, principal surveyor of the Maritime Coastguard Agency, said: "We are conducting an investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time."

Neil McCheyne, general manager of the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company, which runs the ferry, said: "The matter has been reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Health and Safety Executive and is under investigation.

"We therefore feel it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time ahead of their findings."

First published: September 6