TWO Kier binmen working in Somerset came to the rescue of an elderly grandmother after she injured herself outside her home.
Patricia Ravenhill from Bridgwater tripped and fell, hitting and severely cutting her head on the pavement in the early hours of the morning.
Hours later, garden waste crew Richard Chamberlain, aged 65, from Williton, and Jimmy Elliott, 64, from Minehead, ran to her rescue after spotted the 90 year old lying on the ground.
Mr Chamberlain, a retired Williton fire chief, called an ambulance and both men stayed with her, administering first aid until the medical services and her family arrived.
At hospital, Mrs Ravenhill received 22 stitches to the wound and was discharged a few days later. She called her rescuers “wonderful”.
Mrs Ravenhill added: “I am so grateful for all their kindness. The two gentlemen were so caring to me. They rang the ambulance, rang my daughter and stayed with me.”
Son-in-law Richard Langdon said: “We are deeply grateful for everything the binmen did. She could have died if it wasn’t for them coming to her rescue.
“It was such a cold morning and she was only in her nightie. They spotted her lying on the ground and cared for her right up until the emergency services arrived.
“My family and I cannot praise them enough; my mother-in-law would probably not be here today if it wasn’t for their heroic actions.”
Modest Mr Chamberlain from Kier said: “I would not say we were heroes; anyone would have done the same. The elderly lady was cold, frightened and in a lot of pain.
“I was in a jumper and trousers with a bump cap because it was chilly, so you can imagine how cold she would have been.
“Our priority was to keep her warm and try to stop the bleeding to her head until the paramedics arrived.”
Somerset Waste Partnership managing director Steve Read said: “Despite their protests, Richard and Jimmy are real local heroes for reacting so brilliantly. Great work!”