John praised for his freezing vigil

Reporter: Ken Bennett
Date online: 07/01/2010

A doctor praised a retired businessman who stayed at the side of a seriously injured woman for two hours on snow-covered moorland.

And today, neighbours who helped support 60-year-old John Bullen throughout his vigil in sub-zero temperatures, described him as a hero.

Mr Bullen, from Uppermill, came to the rescue after hearing the woman’s screams coming from a field more than 200 yards from the nearest road.

The woman was returning a horse to its stable off Running Hill Gate when it kicked out and she suffered a serious compound fracture to her left leg. Mr Bullen, who was working in a near-by stable, rushed to the scene and alerted emergency services.

His friend, Arthur Prowse from Grasscroft, told neighbours and they scrambled through deep snow to the scene with blankets and a hot water bottle.

Mr Bullen comforted the injured woman as Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, including the team’s doctor, Andrew Taylor, and two paramedics, tended to the woman.

Dr Taylor said: “Mr Bullen did a truly fantastic job. He never left the distressed lady and kept talking to her while we carried out our examinations.”

And neighbour Mrs Rosemary Brierley said: “John is a real hero. He must have been in the field for two hours but he never complained. His only concern was the lady’s welfare.”

Mr Bullen said: “The lady was in terrible pain.Our neighbours were a great help.”

After being stabilised the injured woman was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital.

Earlier Dr Taylor was called to a 59-year-old man with a chest infection at a house on Running Hill — just a mile from the scene of the later drama.