RUGBY great Phil Kearns and wife Julie were last night maintaining a vigil by their critically injured daughter’s hospital bed after theformer Wallaby captain accidentally backed over the 19- month-old with his four-wheel-drive.

Andie, the youngest of the Kearnses’ four children, suffered abdominal injuries in the Saturday morning accident and is on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at the Children’s Hospital at Randwick. Last night she was in a critical but stable condition.

The toddler was initially rushed by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital but was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital for further treatment.

In a statement last night, Kearns said Andie was doing better than had been hoped and thanked the public for their support.

“My wife and I are overwhelmed. It has been just amazing,” Kearns said. “(Andie) is holding up really well. She had a good 24 hours and is much better than she was yesterday.”

A hospital spokeswoman said a team of pediatric intensive care specialists were caring for Andie.

Kearns was driving his VW Touareg 4WD at the time of the accident in the driveway of his Mosman home on the lower north shore. Volkswagen appointed Kearns a public ambassador for the luxury car in 2003.

About 30 children die each year in Australia and 300 are injured after being run over in their driveways.

Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby said two- thirds of those accidents involved 4WD “monsters”.

He called for compulsory video cameras providing a 180-degree rear view.