Daniel's friends offer reward

FRIENDS and family of a man fighting for his life after an apparent hit-and-run in Heathfield have offered a reward to catch the person responsible for his injuries.

Daniel May, of Longview, Heathfield, has been in a coma since being found unconscious on the A265 Burwash Road, on Sunday August 25. He was found just yards from the pub where he had been socialising that night.

He was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries and underwent a two-and-a-half hour brain operation. His condition was yesterday described as critical but stable. The 23-year-old's parents have been at his bedside since the incident.

Police do not know whether the university graduate was attacked or hit by a car. But friends who are convinced he was the victim of a hit-and-run have begun raising money for a reward. Posters appealing for information have been put up in Hailsham, Polegate, Heathfield and Uckfield. Mr May's employers, PJ Skips of Hailsham, have contributed 750 to the reward total.

Popular

Robert Procter, of South Road, Hailsham, who is the partner of Mr May's sister Taryn, said: 'Daniel has a great team of friends who have all rallied round. Everyone wants to do something to chip in for the reward.

'He's very popular in Heathfield. It's not until something like this happens that you realise how many friends he has.'

Mr May, who recently graduated with a 2:1 degree in advanced business management from Southampton Institute, plays football for Heathfield United and also plays in the local cricket team.

He had been with friends in the Crown Inn pub before the incident. He was found at 11.15pm and was rushed to hospital at Tunbridge Wells before being transferred to the Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath, where he was operated on.

A portion of the money raised will be used as a reward for any information leading to an arrest but the rest will be spent on Mr May's rehabilitation.

Mr Procter added: 'Daniel's parents have been living at the hospital since it happened. They have been sleeping in the watiting room. We all obviously want to know what happened but, at the moment, the family want to be there for Daniel.'

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the incident or who stopped to help Mr May before the emergency services arrived. They are particularly keen to talk to the occupants of two cars known to be at the scene just before officers arrived. The cars are described as a gold hatchback and possibly a red Rover.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.