Teenagers come to rescue of pensioner after park fall

Shirley Walker, who is 80 in July, slipped in some mud at Hall Om Wong Park and was unable to get back on her feet when she was approached by three young teens who helped her up and offered to walk her home.

“I was so delighted with them, I really was. They were great lads.

“It was nice because these youngsters get such a bad press usually.”

Shirley had been out walking her dog when she slipped in a muddy wooded area of the park.

“I couldn’t get any grip with my hands or my feet and couldn’t get up again,” she said.

“The boys had been kicking a football around on the field and they came over and said ‘can we help you?’

“They were very concerned. It was wonderful. I really did appreciate it.”

The boys – Callum Manning, Luke Woodcock and Daniel Frogson – escorted Shirley to safety not far from Hardy Street.

“I had one holding my arm, one holding my back and the other taking my dog.

“They offered to take me home but I said I was okay,” said Shirley.

The boys, aged 13, 14 and 15 go to Kimberley School.

Headteacher Chris Teal said he felt ‘extremely proud’.

“It’s amazing.

“Young people often make the news for the wrong reasons and what we have to remember is the overwhelming majority of people in our community are absolutely fantastic. And these lads demostrated this by their selfless actions.

“They did the right thing and that’s something that we can all learn a bit from.

“These lads are a perfect demonstration of how to go on.

I am very proud indeed.”