Four heroic high school students explained the terrifying moment where they saved a man who collapsed and had a seizure walking his dog.
James Leader, Sam Willerton, Jake Cookson and Logan Fuller used initiative and first aid training when tending to Andy Jones after he collapsed. The 47-year-old explained the moments before he had a seizure.
“I was just walking my dog; it was a standard evening," he said. "As I walked on Stockport Road, my focus just went. I couldn’t specifically focus on anything.”
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“I usually cross the road there but realised I had gone too far. So, I was a bit delirious as well. I was just staggering near the TransPennine Express railway. I had turned round and that’s when I was out like a light.”
The four Alder Community High School students were walking when they saw Andy stumbling and eventually collapsed.
Sam and Jake had used medical training from The Duke of Edinburgh Award to keep Andy in an elevated position while James Leader and Logan Fuller contacted the ambulance.
James, Sam and Jake explained how they had felt when they saw Andy collapsed.
James said: “It was like instinct to help him, I did not just want to leave him there, I knew what to do in the moment. I was mainly just worried about him. I told the hospital that he was seizing, and they gave us instructions on what to do.”
Sam said that he was “panicking” yet showed initiative in the moment. “I ran to the top of the road got the road name for the ambulance because they did not know where to go.”
Speaking to the M.E.N, Andy Jones explained how he felt after the unfortunate event.
“I remember being in a stretcher with my top above my head, my pants rolled up and electric devices stuck to me. I had a paramedic above me asking me questions, I didn’t even know where my dog was.
“I spent the night in Tameside general, I had many tests, and everything came back great. I was discharged from the ward I’m now an outpatient, everything feels great though, touch wood.”
Andy was told by his girlfriend that the four students called the ambulance and saved his life.
The father of one then put a post on Facebook trying to find who was responsible when the mother of one of the students and got in contact with Andy to arrange a reunion.
Andy praised the students when they met. He said: “You should hold your heads up very very high, I am forever indebted. I could have been there for who knows how long.
“You followed your training. This is why I am here, to give you guys the recognition you deserve, whether it be from the teachers or the publicity.”
The four students were awarded the Altruism badge by Alder Community Headteacher, Richard O’Reegan.
He said: “I’m sat with a tear in my eye listening to the story. Could I do that at that age? Could I do it now. I think it’s an incredible story, we didn’t know how long Andy would be there, they probably saved his life.”
Executive Member of Education Councillor Leanne Feely explained to the students how proud she was of them
“It’s a situation where you don’t know what you are walking into, and you didn’t walk away. You stayed there, you dealt with it and that’s amazing. You’re local heroes.”
Read today's top stories here.
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