Biker salutes crash heroes

Heroes, from left, Jabran Saghir, Connor Hall, and Macauley Ravenscroft, with a grateful Stewart Wood

A MOTORCYCLIST injured in a crash has been singing the praises of youngsters who rushed to his aid.

Stewart Wood (57), of Higginshaw, broke ribs and injured his shoulder when he fell off his bike in Lees Road.

But he was extremely grateful when Connor Hall from Our Lady’s School, Macauley Ravenscroft from Royton and Crompton School and Wesley Williams, Mohanned Bataweel, Douglas Aigbedo and Jabran Saghir from Abraham Moss came to the rescue.

The friends, who are studying engineering once a week at Oldham Training Centre, reacted quickly when they saw the incident while on their lunch break.

In a team effort, they put Stewart into the recovery position, called an ambulance and Stewart’s friend, picked up his bike and moved it from the road.

Stewart said: “I was a little beaten-up and disorientated when these lads helped me.

“They insisted that I needed an ambulance, which I disputed at the time but now I see they were right.

“These boys phoned an ambulance and called my pal to come to help. They stayed until help arrived then they melted away discretely.

“Fortunately when I had been treated at hospital I managed to trace the call from one of the lads so I phoned him to thank him. These lads are heroes.”

He added: “We hear so much negative stuff about teenagers and I think these youngsters deserve praise. They were wonderful and I thank them sincerely.

“I ended up with a sore shoulder, broken ribs and a busted bike which I can fix.

“What is priceless is the help I received from these great lads — I thank those boys once again.”

Oldham Training Centre manager Steve Neild, said he was delighted to hear the news — which the lads had kept very quiet.

He said: “These lads are a credit to their schools, themselves and to this centre.

“They called an ambulance, put Mr Wood in the recovery position and moved his bike off the road.

“It’s great to hear positive news about our students.”