A baby who miraculously survived falling from a first floor window has now been released from hospital.

The tot, thought to be around 18 months, fell 15ft from a flat in Station Road, Rainham, on Tuesday August 5.

A witness said the girl fell from a window above D&A Angling and hit a shop canopy before hitting a man who was walking below.

Her mother, named locally as Karen Sennett, has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

After being quizzed by police on Tuesday evening, she has been bailed until October 14 pending further inquiries.

Her baby, named locally as Kiaya, was taken by road ambulance to King’s College Hospital, London where it is believed she underwent surgery.

Tish Thanki, who owns the Candy Store newsagents next to D&A Angling, has been told by the family that Kiaya had a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.

Mr Thanki, 44, was in his store when one of his customers came running in and shouted to call an ambulance. He said: “I ran outside and noticed the baby, she was just screaming her eyes out.

“We brought her inside and followed the instructions from the woman on the phone. When I was holding her, the bump on her head was just getting bigger and bigger.”

A South East Coast spokesman said they had been called to Rainham at 8.10am. The girl was assessed and treated for head and chest injuries by paramedics at the scene.

Becky Zacharow, 18, was on her way to the train station . She said: “At first I thought it was a doll. She hit an elderly man on the shoulder then fell to the floor.

“I went to see if the man was okay and the baby wasn’t making any sound so I still thought it was a doll, but then she started screaming.

“I picked her up and cradled her. She was bleeding from her nose and mouth.” Miss Zacharow said the girl’s mum had come running out of the flat crying.

Baby Kiaya hit pensioner John Gilson, a regular customer at the newsagents, who said he was too shaken to speak following the incident.

He told Mr Thanki he thinks the baby hit the shop canopy then fell and brushed down his arm.

Staff at the Candy Store said Kiaya regularly comes in the shop with her mother and was just starting to walk.

Mr Thanki added: “Karen comes in when she takes Kiaya to nursery. She’s a lovely little girl and a strong kid. It’s just a tragedy. You wouldn’t expect this type of accident to happen on your doorstep.”

D&A Angling is part of a small row of shops with flats above.