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Hollywood star Johnny Depp to help Hampshire coma girl

9:02am Saturday 22nd March 2008

comment Comments (15)   Have your say »


HE'S a Hollywood heart-throb who has played everything from a pirate to a drug baron to a policeman on the trail of Jack the Ripper, and most recently the murderous barber Sweeney Todd.

But a Hampshire family are hoping Johnny Depp's next role could make him a real-life hero.

Sophie Wilkinson has been in a coma for the past five months, since the car she was a passenger in - driven by an 18-year-old who had passed his test just 24 hours earlier - smashed into an 18-tonne lorry.

The 17-year-old who dreamed of teaching AIDS orphans in Africa before going to university has undergone life-saving operations since the horrific crash in Swanmore last October.

While magistrates have banned David Brookman, who was driving the Peugeot 106, Sophie's parents and three siblings have staged a vigil at her bedside.

Although she has since opened her eyes and even smiled, she remains in a coma.

But parents Andrew and Alison Wilkinson hope her Hollywood idol could be the key to changing that.

They have contacted Johnny Depp, whose portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy was a favourite of Sophie's, to ask for help.

And like any good hero, he has agreed.

The 44-year-old star, a father of two, has offered to record a message to the Peter Symonds College student in the hope that his voice will wake her up.

So touched was he by Sophie's story the actor has also said he wants to visit.

For the full story, see today's Daily Echo.


Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

Sceptic, Waterside says...
10:13am Sat 22 Mar 08

Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed.

No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla
h

Hugh Carres, says...
11:56am Sat 22 Mar 08

Sceptic wrote:
Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
Why do you think he's publicity seeking - that's an awful thing to say.

Lisa, Livingston says...
12:10pm Sat 22 Mar 08

He is a wonderful person to do what he does. He's done this before - not looking for thanks. God bless Sophie and her family - He will be there for you always if you just ask. I pray for the whole family and am so thankful that someone who could have an inflated ego is taking time out of his day to reach out to another human being. After all, we all put our pants on one leg at time, don't we?

Denzil, romsey says...
1:45pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Sceptic wrote:
Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
They should use a double and see if that does the trick.

Dave, Holbury says...
2:25pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Lisa wrote:
He is a wonderful person to do what he does. He's done this before - not looking for thanks. God bless Sophie and her family - He will be there for you always if you just ask. I pray for the whole family and am so thankful that someone who could have an inflated ego is taking time out of his day to reach out to another human being. After all, we all put our pants on one leg at time, don't we?
Johnny,s own daughter was very poorly not so long ago, so he knows what this family are going through. He really is one of the good guys who is just trying to help.I agree with everything Lisa said, and hope that Denzil romsey keeps quiet if he can,t say anything positive.

Susan, Perth, Australia says...
2:36pm Sat 22 Mar 08

How humble, kind and sincere of Johnny Depp to do this. My heart goes out to Sophie and her family. My partner's son was hit by a semi trailer (same as an 18 tonne lorry) 5 weeks ago and he is also in a coma like Sophie. Words can't express what it feels like to be in this situation. We are all bleeding inside and each day is a chore to get through. May God bless Sophie, my partner's son and all the coma patients throughout the world.

Fred, says...
3:13pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Denzil wrote:
Sceptic wrote: Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
They should use a double and see if that does the trick.
Not such a silly idea. If someone can be woken from a coma if their favorite celebrity comes to visit how will they actually know it is the real person? A new visiting celebrity service to wake those from comas - not there's a thought.

Just need a name for the business. Anyone?

Lisa, Livingston says...
3:48pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Susan - I will add your partner's son to my prayers. How horrible. I have found through struggles of my own in life that certain things I can control and for those that I can't - I give them up to God. Don't get me wrong....I'm not a Bible Thumper by any means, but I know that I can't influence every lot in life so I find strength in "giving it up to God". I hope you and your partner find solace in knowing there are a lot of those who pray with you, and for you.

Linda Christie, Alhaurin el Grande, Spain says...
4:07pm Sat 22 Mar 08

It certainly is not the first time he has done this. See www dot JohnnysAngels dot org for further details. He may be one of the biggest Hollywood stars in the world but he has never forgotten how to be a humble and charming man and does so much for charity and to inspire others to do good in his name.

You Ton Wong, says...
6:11pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Denzil wrote:
Sceptic wrote: Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
They should use a double and see if that does the trick.
Trust Denzil to make another unuseful, feelingless idiotic comment.

Dictionary definition for you Denzil- Disabled-person who is crippled or otherwise physically handicapped.

George, says...
6:58pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Hugh Carres wrote:
Sceptic wrote:
Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
Why do you think he's publicity seeking - that's an awful thing to say.
Erm, re-read Sceptic's post. He's very specifically not saying that

You have to wonder just how an internationally reknowned Hollywood actor would be able to do something like this anonymously anyway. Not to mention why he'd bother, considering how easy it is for him to get publicity anyway. Good on him, I say

magssoton, says...
6:59pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Susan wrote:
How humble, kind and sincere of Johnny Depp to do this. My heart goes out to Sophie and her family. My partner's son was hit by a semi trailer (same as an 18 tonne lorry) 5 weeks ago and he is also in a coma like Sophie. Words can't express what it feels like to be in this situation. We are all bleeding inside and each day is a chore to get through. May God bless Sophie, my partner's son and all the coma patients throughout the world.
May God bless you and your families and wish your Stepson and Sophie a swift and full recovery

Sceptic, Waterside says...
10:50pm Sat 22 Mar 08

Fred wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Sceptic wrote: Good on him, lets hope it helps!Poor girl,very sad indeed. No doubt many thick and insensitive ,witless wonders will post on here that he is publicity seeking...why didn't he do it anonymously...etc etc..blah..blah..bla h
They should use a double and see if that does the trick.
Not such a silly idea. If someone can be woken from a coma if their favorite celebrity comes to visit how will they actually know it is the real person? A new visiting celebrity service to wake those from comas - not there's a thought. Just need a name for the business. Anyone?
Ok....just gotta find something that rhymes with doppleganger and we are in business!

Valerie, Allentown, NJ says...
12:14am Sun 23 Mar 08

Johnny is a good man - which of course is one of the reasons why he is such an incredible actor - with integrity and feelings - I was just thinking today that it was last March that his daughter was so ill - thank God they got through that and all is well and bless them all - now, knowing Johnny, he wants to give back! My prayers go out to Sophie and her family.

King Mush, Woolston says...
9:56pm Mon 24 Mar 08

Denzil:

"They should use a double and see if that does the trick"

What - put a depp in?

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