Goal is sea job

Amputee Amy Duncan was back in surgery yesterday - after telling friends on a social networking site she still wanted to join the Navy.

Amy, 17, lost her left leg below the knee last Friday after she was hit by a car on Auckland's North Shore.

She was 10 days away from joining the Navy, where she hoped to become a gunner or a medic, and was celebrating her last day of school at Glenfield College when she was struck.

Police said the accident was the result of an illegal street race. They are still investigating and charges are yet to be laid.

Her mother Julie Duncan said yesterday Amy was coping well.

From her room in Auckland Hospital, Amy has been in contact with friends on Bebo - including Kahn Roper, 17, who was allegedly driving the car that hit her.

"Hope you're all good Kahn. Thinking of you and your family," she wrote on his page on Thursday.

Kahn had not replied last night and did not want to comment when contacted yesterday.

Through Bebo, Amy told another friend on Friday she still wanted to be in the Navy but said she didn't think she'd be joining for a while "cos I gotta learn how to walk and run again".

A Navy spokesman said it was inappropriate to discuss Amy's future while she was still in hospital. "Once Amy has fully recovered, her fitness for entry will be re-assessed.

"As with all persons and with all medical conditions each individual is assessed as to their ability to do the job."

Amy has had several operations on her leg, which she calls "stumpy" on her Bebo page, and has a cast on her broken wrist.

She told friends she did not know how long she would be in hospital, but

she was "very bored" and invited friends to visit and thanked them for their support.

"You're the reason why I'm fighting away the pain and the tears, just so I can have a proper laugh again, you make me feel like I'm still 'normal'."