Asda driver Joe Wilby praised for raising alarm after dad fell downstairs (Image: Asda)
A family have praised an Asda delivery driver for saving their dad’s life – when the teen found the 81 year-old seriously injured in a fall down his stairs.
Home delivery worker Joe Wilby, 19, from the Asda Westbrook store in Warrington, Cheshire, was dropping off groceries at pensioner Thomas Ralston’s home when no-one answered the front door.
Having a gut feeling something was wrong – as he knew an OAP couple lived there with his Alzheimer’s stricken wife from previous deliveries – he rang Mr Ralston’s son after finding the number on the food order form.
Together they got a neighbour to open the front door with their emergency key, found the OAP injured and in shock at the bottom of the stairs after a nasty fall and dialled 999 for paramedics while keeping him warm.
Now – as Mr Ralston recovers back at home – his daughter Amanda has praised Joe’s quick-thinking saying he “deserved a medal”.
She added: “His help was invaluable that day.
“The world is a better place because of people like this. Also a thank you to his manager who gave him the okay to stay with him.”
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Teenage Asda driver Joe Wilby said he suspected something was amiss when he turned up with a van of groceries for a scheduled delivery – but no-one answered the door.
Joe said: “I just sensed something wasn’t right when I didn’t get an answer when I knocked as I knew there was an elderly couple in the house. I had a gut feeling to be honest that something was wrong.
“I phoned the contact number on the delivery notes and spoke to the customer’s son, Julian, and then got a neighbour.
“We opened the front door and found Thomas at the bottom of the stairs by the front door. He was conscious and responsive, but a bit shook up. I then called 999 for an ambulance.”
Explaining how he care for Mr Ralston as they waited for paramedics to arrive he said: “Thomas’s wife, who I believe had Alzheimer’s, wasn’t able to get up, but I kept her in the loop and told her what was going on.
“I put a blanket on Thomas to keep warm and kept checking on him and chatting to him to see if he needed anything while we waited for paramedic and carers to arrive, which was only about ten minutes.”
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Luckily after recovering from his fall Mr Ralston is recovering well, out of hospital after being treated at home by carers for cuts and bruises.
Joe added: “I’m just glad he’s doing well. I hope that most of the people I know would have done the same thing. I just did what I thought was right.”
Thomas’s relieved son Julian – who lives in a different part of the UK – said his father might not be alive today if it wasn’t for Joe.
Julian Ralston said: “Joe was fantastic and I believe he saved my dad’s life.
“I am truly blown away by his concern. I live more than three hours away so he kept updating me by phone. His main focus was the safeguarding of my parents.
“He stayed with my dad until a neighbour I had contacted could sit with my mum once the ambulance took my dad to hospital as my mum suffers with Alzheimer’s.
“Joe’s been asking for updates on my dad after the event for his own peace of mind, which shows what a remarkable individual he is. I really can’t thank him enough.”
The store’s online trading manager Connor Naden, who has nominated Joe for an Asda service superstar award, said: “We are all so proud of Joe. He’s a really nice guy, helpful and down to earth.”