Chilling Facebook message from teen left for dead on roadside
A teenage girl who was found with severe head injuries on the side of the road south of Sydney may not have been the victim of a suspected hit-run.
It's been revealed that April-lee Gillen posted a chilling message to Facebook around the time she was injured.
"Phones on 1 per cent walking from Warrawong to Berks and some Asian guy just stopped me telling me to come home with him cause it’s safe and I need help sos," she said.
Minutes later the 17-year-old was found unconscious on Northcliffe Drive in Lake Heights, south of Wollongong.
Ms Gillen suffered serious head injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition in intensive care at Wollongong Hospital.
April-lee's sister took to social media in a desperate plea for information after he body was discovered.
Ms Gillen’s sister Kimberly posted on Facebook that she is "in ICU on life support bleeding from her brain and not breathing on her own."
"She may of (sic) been abused or a hit and run between 12.30 and 1.30," Kimberly wrote.
"Any information please let me know or if she has taken anything. Please share."
April-lee's cousin also wrote: "I love you Cuz April Lee Gillen, please pull thru this. My prayers and thoughts are with you tonight."
Police said the possibility of a hit-and-run was being investigated.
"She's still in a pretty bad way," said Inspector Gordon Dunlop from Lake Illawarra police.
"She is going to survive, but the extent of the injuries to her brain is still uncertain."
A number of witnesses reportedly heard a noise before discovering the girl.
Northcliffe Drive resident Lola Smith told Fairfax Media that she heard a "slight bang" around the time Ms Gillen was hit.
"It's awful," she said. "We haven't had anything like that along here before.
"I just hope the girl survives."
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.
