
Nine-month-old Marie Louise was killed and her mother, 23-year-old Niedja da Silva Araújo, left in a serious condition after the pair were hit by driver Antonio de Almeida Anaquim, 41, as they walked on the Copacabana beach in Brazil

This is the first picture to emerge of a nine-month-old baby who was killed when a car ploughed into crowds on the Copacabana beach in Brazil, leaving 17 others including the girl's mother injured.

Marie Louise was being pushed down the beach promenade by 23-year-old mother Niedja da Silva Araújo when the pair were struck by driver Antonio de Almeida Anaquim, 41, who was having a seizure.

Police have confirmed Marie was killed while Araújo is now in hospital in a serious condition. Father Darlan Rocha, 27, who was working at the time, described Anaquim as a 'killer' and said he needs to be jailed.

Speaking to Oglobo outside the hospital where Araújo was being treated, Rocha said: 'He's a killer. He was not supposed to have a driver's license nor to be on the street. He's a killer, he killed my daughter.

'How am I going to live without my daughter? I was working at the time, my wife was walking with her on the beach in the stroller, and he came running over everybody.'

Daris La Mar, 40, who tried to help in the rescue said emergency workers tried to revive the baby for 50 minutes.

She said: "When I arrived on the boardwalk, there were many people who had been injured and, as I approached the mother and the baby, she just said "My baby. Where's my baby."

"Then the grandmother handed me the baby and she said "Save my baby". The first car that stopped was the Municipal Guard and they took us to the hospital.'

Anaquim, who suffers from epilepsy, had a seizure behind the wheel of his black Hyundai I30 before ploughing into crowds at the beach. He has been arrested.

His driving licence was suspended at the time of the crash, Globo1 reports, after he racked up 14 fines in the past five years. Anti-seizure medicine was found in the car.

Father Darlan Rocha, 27, branded Anaquim a 'killer' and said he deserves to be locked up as he spoke outside the hospital where Araújo was being treated

Seventeen people were injured, with five in serious condition, when Anaquim suffered an eplieptic seizure behind the wheel of his black Hyundai I10 before driving on to the beach

Witnesses said Anaquim tried to flee the scene but was stopped by people who began beating him until police stopped them

Medics were confronted with a mass casualty scene close to one of the world's most famous beaches

Police have stressed the incident is not being treated as a terror attack, but is instead a 'serious accident'

A man is pictured holding a baby next to one of the victims of the incident on the floor

The incident happened at 8pm local time with reports suggesting at least 15 people have been injured. The area was filled with tourists at the time. A car believed to be involved is pictured

A pram can be seen lying on the ground after the horrific incident at Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro, in which at least 15 people were reportedly hurt

The Hyundai I30 stopped in the sand after it apparently crossed the wide sidewalk that runs between the beach and a busy road. Pictured: A man being treated at the scene after the tragedy

The car can be seen smashed up on the sand as victims lie on stretchers to be treated after the devastating crash, thought so far to have killed at least one person

A tourist filmed the shocking scenes from above as dozens of emergency service personnel rushed to the beach to help victims of the crash

Initial reports claim an eight-month-old baby has been killed and at least 15 people injured

Authorities have confirmed the driver, Antonio de Almeida Anaquim, 41, had an epileptic seizure and lost control of his car. He has been detained by police. Pictured: The scene tonight

Aside from Araújo four others were reported to be seriously injured - two children and two Australians including a 68-year-old with head injuries.

As the damaged vehicle was lifted off the beach by a tow truck, a collection of personal possessions including bags, shoes and other items were found crushed underneath the car wheels where it had landed.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car fly through the air as it crossed the bike path hitting the concrete borders, crashing into several people walking along the Figueredo Magalhães Sidewalk and into those on the beach.

It finally stopped with all four wheels resting on the sand.

Hundreds of people were out enjoying the popular location in the evening as summer temperatures hit 31 degrees.

Colonel Murilo Angelotti, commander of the military police 17th Battalion in Copacabana, said: 'The motorist is believed to have had an epileptic fit and lost control of the car.'

Investigators reported that the motorist showed 'no signs of intoxication' and claimed he had not been drinking and did not remember what happened as he 'was unconscious' for a few minutes.

Before police arrived, locals reported the driver tried to run away but was stopped by beachgoers who allegedly started beating him.

It is also being claimed a woman passenger was in the car with the suspect. She is said to have fled the scene moments after the accident happened.

Brazilian law determines that a person caught at the scene of a crime is treated harsher than a person who is not detained at the time of the incident.

Harrowing pictures showed day-trippers injured on the popular tourist beach being attended to by emergency works and comforted by family and friends.

Firefighters carry a woman away to receive treatment after she was hit by the car driving along the famous beach's boardwalk

Authorities have confirmed the driver, Antonio de Almeida Anaquim, 41, had an epileptic seizure and lost control of his car. He has been detained by police. Pictured: Police standing by the car

Police have stressed the incident is not being treated as a terror attack, but is instead a 'serious accident'. Pictured: A man being taken for treatment after the crash

The horrifying incident happened at 8.45pm local time (10.45pm GMT) on Rio de Janeiro's Rua Figueredo de Magalhães boardwalk near the iconic beauty spot. Pictured: Police and firemen at the scene of the crash

Local media reported that anti-seizure medicine was found in the driver's car and said he is now being tested for alcohol in his blood. Pictured: The scene from above after the incident. To the right is the car

Graphic mobile phone footage showed numerous beachgoers lying injured on the floor as bystanders tended to the wounded.

One eyewitness who works as a sand sculpturer on the iconic beach said: 'I saw the car come whizzing off the road and flyacross the broadwalk and onto the beach.

'There was a huge noise as it hit the ground and flew through the air at least a metre high.

'It just rammed through people. The car hit the beach trolleys that transport the beach chairs and umbrellas and battered into people who were selling stuff on the sidewalk.

'I ran to the vehicle and soon as it stopped and saw there was a girl in the passenger side. She opened the door and ran away.

'I went to the driver's side and opened the door and said to the man inside 'what on earth have you done mate?'. I took the keys from the car and the guy jumped out the car and tried to run off.

'I gave the keys to the police and went to help my friend who had been injured,' the beach worker said.

Some eyewitnesses said the vehicle was not going at high speed because the traffic was congested on the main Atlantic Avenue.

An Argentine tourist said to GloboNews the car was speeding.

She said: 'Chairs begun to fly everywhere. At first I didn't realize that it was caused by a car until I saw people lying on the floor. There was an injured baby.

'It happened very fast and [the car] came along very fast. It was strange, because the traffic was very slow.'

According to local media, beachgoers who saw the crash beat the driver until they were stopped by police.

Colonel Angelotti said: 'We got there in time to keep him from being lynched.'

In addition to Araújo, four others are reported to be in serious condition including two children and two Australians, including a 68-year-old who suffered head injuries.

Three men, three women and a two-year-old boy have been sent to the Souza Aguiar Hospital, it has been reported.

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Hyundai I30 stopped in the sand after it apparently crossed the wide sidewalk that runs between the beach and a busy road.

Witnesses claim the car was not driving at high speed as traffic in the area was intense.