Paperboy Mark saves grandad

Mark: “I thought I was famous for a bit when the story went in the newspaper, but I didn’t expect this.”

OLDHAM Chronicle paperboy Mark Barrow has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award for keeping his head and acting swiftly in a crisis.

The cool customer steeled his nerves to do exactly what the ambulance service instructed over the phone to keep his grandfather alive until paramedics arrived to take over.

The Saddleworth School pupil leapt into gear when Barry Garner collapsed at his home in Higher Carr Lane, Greenfield.

The 67-year-old grandfather had suffered a heart attack, and the teenager, who had no first-aid training, immediately took charge of the situation.

Mark, who lives in Beech Avenue, Greenfield, celebrated his 15th birthday with the news of his nomination.

He said: “I am proud to be picked. I thought I was famous for a bit when the story went in the newspaper, but I didn’t expect this.”

Mr Garner has since undergone heart-bypass surgery and is back at home.

Mark’s mother, Janet, said: “The doctors and consultants at hospital kept coming over to shake Mark’s hand, and told him his grandfather wouldn’t have survived without him.”

Mark’s proud grandmother, Margaret, said: “If it wasn’t for Mark I don’t think his grandad would be here now.

“I just panicked when he collapsed. The ambulance people were telling me what to do over the phone, my little grandson was crying and I couldn’t think straight.

“Mark came rushing in and took over. To say he had never done anything like it before, he did a marvellous job.”