Hero kids save pal in park
Published: January 8, 2007
YOUNGSTERS who saved their friend from serious injury when he had a fit have received a top award.
Josh Fowles was in an Eccles park when he had a severe epileptic fit. His pals protected his head from hitting the ground and placed him in the recovery position.
The youngsters - Kelly Jones, Hayley Jones, Ryan Potts, Alex Johonnet, Jake Jones, Nathan Dickson, Daniel Collantine, Robert Fanning and Liam Sunderland - have now received a Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award, for their efforts.
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The nine students at Salford Academy had befriended the boy after helping out at nearby special needs school Oakwood High, where Josh is a pupil.
His mum Sandra said his friends had transformed life for her and 14-year-old Josh.
With a mental age of six he has learning difficulties and needs constant supervision.
Pupils from the academy, who are aged between 12 and 14, are regular visitors at their home in Patricroft and play with the teenager, taking him to the nearby park and providing his mother with a welcome break.
First aid
During the summer holidays, they were able to put the first aid skills they had learned at school only a few weeks’ earlier into practice when Josh had his fit in the park.
She said: “A lot of people want to give the kids round here a bad name, but what these children have done for us is incredible.
“They have a great respect for Josh and recognise that he does need looking after.
“He doesn’t have a sense of danger and it was a big step for me to allow him to go out of the house.
“I have had to look after Josh all the time, but the children have just been fantastic and such a great help.
“When he goes into a fit, it is very violent and there were a lot of rocks where he fell. I was so frightened when I heard what had happened, but the kids did everything right.
“I don’t think he would be here still if it wasn’t for the other children.”
The Princess Diana award was launched six years ago to mark outstanding contribution by secondary-aged pupils. The children received their accolade at a special end-of-term assembly at the school.
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