Manchester United legend Gary Neville saved Mother’s Day for a family after spotting their disabled mum struggling to walk.
Samantha Ward, from Irlam, was meeting her mum, Ann Knowles, 67, along with the rest of her family at Fazenda in the city centre for a meal out. However, with limited parking spaces outside the front of the steak restaurant, Ann, her husband Phil, 69, and Samantha’s daughter, Jessica, 19, had to park further away.
In a difficult journey over, Ann was visibly struggling to walk. She usually uses a wheelchair after suffering from a brain haemorrhage last year, but had left it at home as she thought her family would be able to park outside.
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Jessica, who is five months pregnant, rang her mum in tears as Samantha asked the restaurant staff to hold the table.
But, appearing ‘out of nowhere’ in his Land Rover Discovery, Neville jumped out and offered to help the family. He picked Ann up and carried her into his car, before driving them over to Fazenda.
Samantha couldn’t believe it when her mum arrived and rushed outside to greet them and got a selfie with Neville.
“They must have thought I was doing a runner,” she laughed.
“My mum was exhausted from walking. I was nearly ready to say that we should leave. The next thing my daughter rang and said: “It’s OK, Gary Neville has picked her up”.
“I couldn't believe it!”
She said she thought he had driven out of the car park when he saw her mum struggling and pulled over to help.
“She put his arm around his neck and he picked her up and put her into the passenger seat,” Samantha said.
Laughing, she added: “Mum’s gutted she didn’t get a picture with him but she’s invited him out for a drink if he’s not too busy! She can’t stop thinking about it.”
Her dad, Phil, had also gotten into the car with them, saying “Oh, hiya, Gary” as he hopped in.
Of Neville, she said: “He was lovely, he was talking to them about Mother’s Day. We had a great day because of him.
“She is a massive United fan as well, it definitely made her Mother’s Day.”
“I think he really needs the recognition - I want him to know how much we appreciate it.”
Since the unbelievable encounter, Samantha, owner of an aesthetics company, has been inundated with phone calls from reporters and has even been on the radio.
She said that Ann had previously worked for her and it was during the day when she took a turn that it became apparent she had suffered from a brain haemorrhage. She has since had to learn how to eat, walk and talk.
“Out of everything to happen, it was just amazing,” she said.
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