Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Lucy Marshall

Leeds man who hit 'rock bottom' fell 'flat on his face' running for bus - then two 'angels' changed his life forever

A man's life "changed forever" when he was running for the bus and fell "flat on his face".

Volunteers from Homeless Street Angels were helping the community in Park Road on Thursday (March 10), when they noticed a man in distress.

Derek, who is in his 80s, was seen by the Angels running for the bus with four bags for life loaded with shopping.

Read more stories on homelessness in Leeds here

Sadly he missed the bus and "fell flat on his face". The volunteers ran to his aid and Derek was "crying his eyes out", pleading "I just can't take it anymore".

Derek isn't homeless but confessed to award-winning Angel Becky Joyce that he has been struggling to pay his bills, and has "no one" to support him.

Becky said it was "fate" that he fell while the Street Angels team were around.

A man was running for the bus in Park Row on Thursday night when he 'fell flat on his face' but his 'life changed forever' (Google Maps)

Homeless Street Angels take to the streets every Thursday night to save people by helping to re-home them, help to sort them a home, guidance with bills and addictions, and to help them continuously - during lockdown the charity also set up a food bank.

She said: "I'm a very strong believer of being in the right place at the right time and everything happening for a reason.

"The night started off very busy and just got busier and busier so I went to the shops to restock. While walking down Park Row, an elderly man was running to try and catch his bus with four heavy bags and fell face down into the road.

Can't see this survey? Click here

"We managed to get him up but the bus drove away, he was very shaken and so distraught he just started crying and let everything out.

"He felt so desperate and lonely. He had no one to help or confide in and was struggling at home with all his paper and bills and just didn't know where to turn."

Becky and Street Angels' head of outreach Michelle, told the gentlemen that it was his "lucky day", and Becky gave him her card details so he could sort out things he needed to pay for.

Enter your postcode to see local issues near you

"We told him today is the day that his life starts to change for the better. I gave him my number and we are going to arrange a home visit and help sort out everything he needs," she said.

The team got him a taxi and waited with him, before he got to his home in Beeston safely on Thursday evening.

Becky added: "Meetings like this don't happen by chance, they are meant to be and this is why we do what we do."

To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.