surprisingly; to one’s surpriseUsed to introduce an unexpected fact or event. It is also commonly written as 驚いたことに, using hiragana instead of 事. The exact form 驚いた事に is somewhat more formal or literary in appearance.
JA: 驚いた事に、その子供は横浜からはるばる一人でここにやってきた。
EN: Surprisingly, the child came all the way here from Yokohama alone.