What a fleece of work

Canvey Island postman Rob Sigston was out on his round when a heavy thud from across the road caught his attention.

When he looked over he saw an elderly gentleman lying on the pavement with a distraught woman on her knees bending over him.

The woman said her husband had fallen and struck his head on the pavement. When Rob noticed the significant amount of blood coming from the man’s head, he asked the wife to call an ambulance while he began to administer first aid.

As the level of bleeding was so strong, Rob took his Royal Mail fleece off and wrapped it around the man’s head to compress the wound. He also did his best to reassure the woman that her husband was going to be alright, as she was in a state of shock.

Canvey Island delivery office manager, Keith Wallis, said: ‘Rob then called a coastguard friend of his who is also a first responder to come and help. Rob himself used to work part-time as both a fireman and coastguard.

‘When the ambulance arrived, Rob helped the paramedics until they took the couple away to hospital. He then carried on with his delivery and afterwards, when he got home, his partner had to wash his blood-soaked fleece. He has since ordered a new one!

‘It’s typical of Rob to have taken control and dealt with the situation on that day as he did, and then just carry on with his round as if nothing had happened. He really is a credit to the business.’