:A 58-year-old mother-of-three was left for dead in a pool of blood by a hit-and-run driver who crashed into her on a cross walk.

Sonya Holder, a registered nurse, was thrown 12 feet by the impact and suffered a fractured neck.

She was left unconscious at the scene by the driver who stopped to look back before driving off.

The incident happened just before 7 p.m. on Saturday as Mrs Holder was heading to a nephew's surprise 30th birthday at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.

Last night her husband Loderick Holder, a retired civil servant and reserve Police officer for 25 years, said "A car travelling east stopped to help her, he said.

"She was bleeding heavily and unconscious. The white car, which hit her, stopped and the man looked back before speeding off. "I don't know how any human being who can do that, leave a person in their blood for dead."

Mrs. Holder has since regained consciousness.

She has had plastic surgery on her left ear which was nearly torn off and six stitches to her head. She is also suffering from a fractured neck and has bruises across her body.

"At the moment we don't think there is paralysis, she can move her feet, but she hasn't yet stood so we don't know everything," Mr. Holder added.

His wife has worked as a nurse for 40 years and is currently in a Project Manager at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Holder is a "strong Christian woman" and a member of the Hamilton Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she has been involved in the church's Pathfinders programme which mentors young people.

"She is the sweetest most wonderful person ever," her husband said. "We celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary the day before this happened.

"When you have a wife as good as mine and this happens after 32 years it turns your stomach."

In spite of the serious nature of his wife's injuries Mr. Holder says he is praying for the individual responsible.

"We are Christian people," he said. "We hope this person will come forward and identify themselves. We want to pray with the person. Perhaps they can come to lunch and express their remorse. We don't want them to do it to someone else."

Mrs. Holder has three children 29-year-old twins, Loderick Jr. and Loderika, and a 24-year-old daughter Lorine as well as a 15-month-old granddaughter Jasmine.

Mr. Holder said the family had been brought even closer since the accident.

Speaking of his wife's resilience Mr. Holder said:<\p>"She is a true Christian woman and I know that it is her belief that has got her through this.

"We are grateful for all the support we have had from the community and hospital. The Bermuda Hospitals Board has rallied around her."

A spokesperson for the BHB said "Sonya is a highly valued and long serving member of the BHB family who started as a nurse and is currently a Project Manager.

"We have all been shocked by the accident and we hope that witnesses will come forward. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sonya and her family."

Anyone with information can contact the Bermuda Police Service or the confidential CrimeStoppers line at 800 8477.