Doctors say the danger period is over for bus-crash victim Sheetal Chand but are keeping her in a coma to let her injuries heal.
"When she arrived at hospital she was conscious, but they had to put her into a coma to give the injuries a chance to heal," her father Rakesh told the Weekend Herald yesterday.
"It is so the brain can relax and also control her breathing so she doesn't put too much pressure on her brain."
Mr Chand said Sheetal did not require brain surgery, but would likely have an operation on her chin.
The 15-year-old Auckland Girls' Grammar student was crossing the road to catch the bus on Tuesday morning when she was hit by a westbound Waka Pacific bus.
The driver has been suspended from duty while the serious crash unit investigates. His employer, NZ Bus, has discounted the initial suggestion that he failed to stop, and offered its support to the Chand family.
Zane Fulljames, general manager of operations, said it was company practice to stand a driver down pending a police investigation into a serious incident of this nature.
"However, this is not about the practices of Waka Pacific, this is about a 15-year-old girl who is in a critical condition. Our thoughts are with her and her family."
The Chand family are keeping a bedside vigil, praying for her safe recovery. Friends and family have come every night, armed with teddy bears, drawings and flowers, to support the teenager.
Mr Chand said Sheetal's younger sisters Shweta, 10, and Sharleen, 5, now understood the gravity of the situation.
"They are coming to understand that 'this is what has happened to my sister'," he said. "They have been coming to see her every day and have seen her in the bed."
He said the family were overwhelmed by love and support. "I want to say thank-you to everybody for all that they have done. We are very grateful for that."
Sergeant Matthew Ford of the Auckland City serious crash unit said police would interview more witnesses next week and had not reached a conclusion on the crash.
Bus-crash student over the danger period
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