TWO friends who helped to save an elderly man’s life have been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley Award.
Olivia Bamford and Katelyn Rollinson, who both attend Horizon School, rang for an ambulance for a man they found collapsed in Peel Street in Barnsley town centre, at the end of March.
The girls, who are 15 and 14 respectively, were featured in the Chronicle after the man’s wife put an appeal out asking for the ‘good Samaritans’ who helped her husband to be found.
The man who collapsed - Harry Roberts - had not been feeling well and fainted while walking.
After Olivia and Katelyn called an ambulance, he was rushed to Barnsley Hospital before being transferred to the Northern General Hospital for emergency surgery.
Harry then had part of his intestine removed as it was found to be rotting, and doctors told his wife Corrinne Roberts that Harry had a less than 50 per cent chance of survival.
“Without those girls and the help of the paramedics and surgeons, he wouldn’t be sitting here today,” said Corrinne.
After the couple, of Lancaster Street, put an appeal in the paper, the two girls came forward to say it was them who helped Harry.
Through the Chronicle, the pair met Harry and Corrinne at the couple’s house and were given flowers and cards with a reward in.
“I am so thankful to them,” said Corrinne. “It was lovely to meet them. Harry spent a lot of time chatting with the girls and I spoke to Katelyn’s parents, who were lovely. We talked about what happened and what the girls did to help Harry.
“Harry and I are so thankful for them. They are lovely girls and they have been brought up well. They both go to Horizon School which is near where we live so we said they are welcome to drop in any time.”
Olivia said: “We went into town after school and we saw Harry collapsed. People were standing round him but no one appeared to be doing anything so we called an ambulance and then we waited with him.”
Olivia’s mum, Carolyn Hodkin, of Stairfoot, added: “I’m really proud of Olivia and Katelyn. Olivia messaged me saying he was collapsed and because I’m a nurse and know what do, I told her to check his breathing and make all the necessary checks and then to stay with him until the ambulance came.
“It might make people think about stopping to check on someone who is collapsed in the street as more often than not they think its drug or alcohol induced, but that isn’t always the case.”
