Thusha Kamaleswaran: Medics believe girl gunned down in shop aged five could walk again

A schoolgirl left paralysed after being caught in gang crossfire says she is “proud” of the extraordinary progress she has made.

Thusha Kamaleswaran was just five in 2011 when she was critically injured by gangsters who fired into a shop owned by her uncle in Stockwell, where she was playing.

Although she is still confined to a wheelchair, she hopes to be able to walk again one day. She turns 13 this week and is making plans to celebrate with friends and family.

Thanks to regular rehabilitation sessions at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which she attends for two weeks every few months, her legs have now regained some movement.

She told the Standard: “I feel proud of myself that I’ve progressed this much and I have noticed an improvement as I couldn’t move my legs at all before.

“The doctors have told me I could walk in the future, although they don’t know how long it will take.”

She said that her experience had inspired her ambitions, adding: “I want to be a doctor myself because they saved me. If I can be a doctor then it’s an extra person to save someone’s life.”

She said she “doesn’t think about the people” involved in the shooting.

Last week, Thusha, whose favourite subject is science, enjoyed a traditional Sri Lankan coming-of-age party with her family, ahead of her birthday on Friday.

The pupil at Seven Kings High School in Ilford said her progress was due to the “strong support” from her mother Sharmila, 41, and father Sasi, 43.

Mr Kamaleswaran, who works in a petrol station, said his daughter has now regained about 75 per cent movement in her lower legs.

He added: “She’s still in a wheelchair, but she is getting a bit better and can move both legs now.”

Her mother said: “The doctors at Kings College Hospital inspired her, but even before the incident Thusha wanted to be a doctor. She is trying very hard in school and chasing her dream.”

Thusha took to the stage at the NHS Heroes Awards on May 14, to celebrate the medics who were involved in saving her life. “I’d like to say thank you to all the doctors and nurses who helped me. I’m here because of them,” she said.

CCTV showed Thusha skipping in the aisle just seconds before the gang rushed in after their intended victim.

In 2012 Nathaniel Grant, Kazeem Kolawole and Anthony McCalla were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and the attempted murder of rival gang member Roshaun Bryan. Grant was told he would serve at least 17 years. Kolawole and McCalla were given a minimum of 14 years.