Teenagers are hailed life-savers after going to OAP's aid

Published on Friday 24 July 2009 10:34

THREE teenagers have been hailed life-savers after rushing to the aid of an elderly woman who collapsed while cutting the grass in her front garden.

The boys were walking past her house in Duddingston when they spotted 79-year-old Evelyn Fraser lying motionless on the ground.

They ran to her and, with the help of a neighbour, managed to stop her swallowing her tongue, sit her up and call for an ambulance.

Today, Mrs Fraser's daughter, Pamela Lynch, said the boys could well have saved her life as she now waits in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for heart surgery.

Mrs Lynch, 44, a retail worker who lives in Port Seton, said: "Young guys get so much criticism these days, but these boys did something really good.

"It was absolutely pouring down with rain, but they made sure she was OK when others were just walking past.

"I really think they deserve some recognition for this.

"They didn't have to do what they did."

It is thought that Mrs Fraser, who lives alone on Duddingston Row, was attempting some gardening when she overstretched herself and collapsed last Monday.

A short time later, friends John Clifford and Alex Scott, both 14, and 13-year-old Dylan McCallum – who all live in Northfield – were walking by when they spotted her, and initially thought she was dead.

They rushed to her side while one of them went to fetch neighbour Laura Bald, 53, a learning assistant, who administered first aid and placed her in the recovery position until the ambulance came.

John, who is a pupil at Leith Academy, said: "We were just walking along when we saw her lying down.

"We ran in and she wasn't moving so we went to get Laura.

"We tried to talk to her at first, but we were getting nothing back. Once Laura came out we were able to help turn her over.

"We didn't really think about it at the time, we just did it. We didn't know her, it was just lucky we were walking past."

Ms Bald also praised the boys, who have dropped round several times since the incident to check on Mrs Fraser's condition.

"It was really touching, not just the way they came to her help, but the fact they've been round a few times since," she said.

"It was that day when the rain was just chucking it down, and even when the ambulance came they insisted on standing there in the rain to see if she was OK.

"Even after they'd called me they were trying to stop passing cars and people for help and they just kept going."

She added: "It restores your faith in youth when you see this kind of thing.

"When I saw the way her tongue was, we rushed to sit her up and then at that point she was sick. We got a blanket round her until the ambulance came.

"It is a close community up here and we look out for each other."

And Ms Bald added: "It's fair to say they might well have saved her life."