Her parents were told it was touch and go 5 times as a result of her burns

Tilly Sawford was given just a five per cent chance of survival and was told she would never walk again. But now she has taken her first steps thanks to her prosthetic leg

A nine-year-old girl who doctors said would never walk has taken her first steps after having her leg amputated.

Tilly Sawford, from Nottingham, was given just a five per cent chance of survival after falling into a scalding hot bath as a baby.

She suffered 86 per cent burns and her parents were told she was close to death five times as she was treated in intensive care for six months.

She has had more than 500 operations, including having shark cartilage and cow collagen grafted onto her skin - but doctors still said she would never walk again.

Earlier this year surgeons amputated her right leg and replaced it with a prosthetic limb to try and help her walk.

And incredibly, two weeks ago she took her first steps unaided - and even played a toy foot-piano.

Her mother, Emma, 30, said: 'I was a little bit upset at first when the doctors first gave us the news that she needed to have her leg amputated in order to walk again.

'You don't usually think the best way to walk is to have your leg cut off but that was the reality we were faced with.

'The doctors explained it was the best option for Tilly and it has proved it so far.

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'She took a while to get used to her "robot leg" and said she wanted to be able to chase people around.

Mrs Sawford added: 'When Tilly took her first few steps it was an enormous moment. Up to then she'd put her hand against the hospital rail or wall for support but then she just stood on her own.

'She had a huge grin on her face and looked so determined. It was an amazing moment and we just hope this is the start of things to come.

She has had more than 500 operations, including having shark cartilage and cow collagen grafted onto her skin - but doctors still said she would never walk again, forcing her to rely on a walking frame

'We are just so happy to see Tilly take her first steps. She is a very determined girl and we are so proud of her achievements.'

Incredibly, despite falling head-first into the bath of scalding water, the only place she did not get burned was her face.

But the scars from the third-degree burns are so deep they affect her walking.

She had her knee cap removed in September last year before having her leg completely amputated at the start of this year.

She received the prosthetic limb in June but walked on her own for the first time in her life two weeks ago.

Tilly, who has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award, said: 'It was fun standing on my own. I can't wait to walk some more.

'My dream is to run and play tag with my friends in the playground.'

Tilly suffered 86 per cent burns when she fell into the bath when she was just 15 months old. Doctors didn't expect her to survive (pictured in hospital after her ordeal having treatment)

Tilly suffered the horrific injuries when she was just 15 months old after her brother accidentally turned the hot tap on while she climbed on a beanbag which was next to the bath.

Because of a fault with the boiler, the water was scalding after a few seconds - moments before she tumbled into the half-full bath in the family home.

Mrs Sawford said: 'I heard a scream and ran back upstairs. Tilly was in the bath tub.

'She must have leaned over and fallen in. Her eyes rolled back and she went unconscious with the pain.

'I picked her up straight away and pulled the plug out. Her skin was coming off in my hands.

Earlier this year surgeons amputated her right leg and replaced it with a prosthetic limb to help her walk. Two weeks ago she took her first steps unaided - and even played a toy foot-piano

Speaking about the moment Tilly walked for the first time, her mother, Emma, 30, said: 'She had a huge grin on her face and looked so determined. It was an amazing moment and we just hope this is the start of things to come'

'I think I started to go into shock, I couldn't speak properly, it was awful.'

Tilly was only in the water for seconds but it was enough to cause her to pass out with the pain.

After being rushed to hospital, doctors turned round to them and said she wouldn't make it through the next few hours.

'It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, my world started to fall apart. I genuinely thought I'd lost my daughter,' Mrs Sawford added.

Her family have been told she might need to have her left leg amputated in the future if it grows the wrong way.