Darlington youngsters rushed to disabled grandmother's aid (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Teenagers help Elsie after fall in South Park, Darlington

3:06pm Friday 7th December 2012 in News Exclusive By Andy Walker, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

A DISABLED grandmother has praised the quick-thinking of two teenagers who helped her after she fell out of her mobility scooter in sub-zero conditions.

One-legged Elsie Porter, from Darlington, was trying to cross South Park, in Darlington, on Sunday (December 2), when she got into difficulty.

Her motorised scooter tipped over, leaving the vulnerable 59-year-old on the ground in darkness, where her cries for help went unanswered for 20 minutes.

Help eventually came in the form of 14-year-old Sean Ramsden and a friend, who were in the park at the time.

They helped a shaken Mrs Porter back into her chair, before making sure she got home safely.

Mrs Porter, who suffers from diabetes as well as glaucoma, was trying to get from her home in Skerne Park to Darlington town centre when she suffered her mishap.

She said: “They were very nice and caring lads and I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn’t found me – I did not believe anyone was going to come.

“Teenagers get a bad press these days, some are selfish and do not want to know, but these lads helped me and got me home, so I am very grateful to them.”

Sean’s mother, Corinne (CORR), said the lads’ intervention could have saved Mrs Porter’s life.

She said: “It was below freezing on Sunday night and had she been left there much longer she would have probably died.

“My son even said that people were walking past the lady and ignoring her.

“I thought it would be nice for people to see that there are actually some kids who are decent.

“I believe my son saved this lady’s life on Sunday night I’m very proud of him.”

Praise for the teenagers’ actions has also come from Cyndi Hughes, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people.

She said: “I want to add my thanks and congratulations to the young men who came to the assistance of Mrs Porter.

“Their actions were heroic and are deserving of admiration, but they are not unusual for their generation.

“The vast majority of young people in Darlington would have done the same thing - these young men stepped-up when needed.”

Modest Sean, a year nine student at St Aidan’s Academy, in Darlington, brushed off the ‘hero’ tag.

He said: “I don’t know what would have happened if we were not there, but I don’t see myself as a hero.

“Anybody could have done what we did.”