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Support floods into weekly for injured features editor

Support has flooded into a weekly newspaper for a features editor seriously injured in a road accident last week.

June Sampson, who has worked at the Surrey Comet for 39 years, remains in intensive care in hospital after being hit by a car last Tuesday evening.

80-year-old June suffered a severe head injury with bleeding on her brain, along with pelvic injuries and broken bones in her legs, and police initially said her injuries were “life-threatening”.

Assistant editor David Lindsell said June’s family had had an “encouraging” visit to her on Sunday at St Geoge’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, and while she was still unconscious, the nurses believed she was responding to things.

He told HTFP: “We have had a ridiculous amount of emails, letters and tweets in support of June. It is a real testament to her.

“It has been really good to see the reaction we have got. People feel like she is someone that they really know.”

The incident took place on or near a zebra crossing in Galsworthy Road in Kingston just before 7pm last Tuesday as June was returning home from the office.

A doctor from Kingston Hospital was understood to have been driving the car which hit the features editor and was due to be interviewed by police about the collision.

The paper has published a series of messages of support it has received for June, which her family are hoping to read to her in hospital.

Husband Hilton Tims, a former Comet news editor, told the paper: “We are so grateful for all the messages we have received.

“She is obviously a very popular lady and we are saving them all up. When she is capable, she can see them herself.”

In the messages of support, David said: “June, everybody at the Comet admires you and loves you to bits. Please get well soon and get yourself back to the office at once.”

And Sean Duggan, former Surrey Comet editor, said: “I am shocked but know how much of a fighter June is. If anyone can recover from this it is her.

“Please let Hilton know my thoughts are with them both.”