Letters save lives

An elderly customer’s letter saved her life when she became trapped by rising waters in her garden after a fall.

Leyburn postman Danny Weston was more than halfway through his usual round, just before flash floods caused chaos in the Yorkshire Dales.

While delivering in the Brentwood area, Danny noticed a house had its door open. Knowing the inhabitant was an elderly woman who lived alone, he was suspicious, and his instincts were confirmed when he heard two cries for help.

In the garden he found the 92-year-old partially-sighted occupant sat in the stream. Appearing to be in some distress she explained to him that she had been weeding, had fallen in the water and then couldn’t get up.

Danny told the Northern Echo: ‘I asked her if she was injured and she said her knee hurt, so I jumped down as it is a few feet lower. I knew I couldn’t do it by myself so I ran next door and got her neighbour, Tony.’

Next door neighbour Tony Booth helped Danny pull her out of the water, but could not get her up the embankment.

They managed to get her on her side, and a paramedic and fire crews were called. At this point the weather worsened, and heavy rain caused the stream’s water level to rise significantly.

Mr Booth told the newspaper: ‘As the paramedic arrived the heavens opened and you could see the water level in the beck rising, it was getting quite dangerous.

‘We couldn’t get her up the bank, minutes later the firemen came and four lads just got it sorted. I have never seen weather like it; it was like a torrent.’

The customer was admitted to hospital as a precaution against the effects of hypothermia and is still an in-patient, where she is said to be in good spirits.

Her niece Jean Stead, said: ‘Although my aunt has a firm grip on life and is very strong, I believe that she may have drowned or died of hypothermia had it not been for the prompt actions of Danny and Tony.’

In typical style, Danny played down his role. ‘I didn’t really do anything,’ he said. ‘It was a team effort and I’m glad we were able to get her out. It’s a good job I had a letter for her otherwise it doesn’t bear thinking about.’