MUMBAI: Singer Britney Spears has asked fans to send "prayers and wishes" to niece Maddie as she remains in hospital following an accident.

Maddie, 8, is in critical but stable condition after her off-road vehicle crashed into a pond, leaving her submerged in water for two minutes.

The pop singer addressed the accident on social media, reports mirror.co.uk.

Alongside a photo of Maddie, Britney wrote: "Need all the wishes and prayers for my niece."

According to police, Maddie was at home in Louisiana with parents Jamie Lynn and her stepfather Jamie Watson when her ATV crashed.

Just before 3 pm on 5 February, Maddie was steering the ATV - which she reportedly got for her seventh birthday - in order to avoid going over a drainage ditch.

"In doing so, she over-corrected causing the ATV to enter the pond.

"The ATV and child were instantly submerged in the water right before their eyes.

"Within seconds the child's mother, stepfather and other family members reached the pond, dove in and attempted to rescue the child to no avail. The child was trapped and secured by the seatbelt and the ATV's safety netting."

(Source: IANS)