Brave Finlay’s field dash to help stranded nanna
Deborah Damary-Thompson is thankful for her grandson Finlay Fleetwood, four, actions after she fell down a rabbit hole and he helped to rescue her. Picture: Marie Caley D3742MC
A BRAVE four-year-old trekked on his own across a 10-acre field to get help for his grandmother who had injured her ankle.
Deborah Damary-Thompson and her grandson Finlay Fleetwood had been on a church camping trip in Misterton, when they decided to go for a walk with the dogs.
But when they got to the furthest point across the field the pair found themselves in trouble after 51-year-old Deborah, who is a careers advisor at Serlby Park School, tripped in a rabbit hole and was unable to get back up.
She said: “We had got right to the other side of the field when I fell down a rabbit hole and sprained my ankle.
“I knew I couldn’t get back up and was thinking ‘how am I going to get back?’ But I did not want to worry or scare Finlay.
“So I said to him calmly that I couldn’t get back up and he needed to go and get help.
“Finlay just said ‘Are you alright nanna?’, then ‘What can I do to help you nanna?’
“He ran off with the two dogs to go and get help and came to my rescue.
“I just saw him being dragged across the field by an Alsatian Collie cross as he went to get help, one dog either side of him the whole way.”
After Finlay had managed to sprint all the way from the other side of the camp he raised the alarm, and several members of the group ran across the field armed with frozen peas to help get rid of the swelling around her foot.
One of the first people to set off to help was a 70-year-old man who made a dash across the camping field, followed by other campers in their cars.
She was later taken to hospital for an X-ray but was told she had sprained the ankle and would need to use crutches until the swelling subsides in around eight weeks.
Mrs Damary-Thompson, of Beech Avenue in Auckley, added: “I’m so proud of him.
“He has been going around telling everyone that he is his nanna’s hero.
“He knew I needed looking after so brought me some strawberries when we got back to the caravan.”
Finlay, who goes to Wilsic Road Day Nursery, is Deborah’s only grandson and she describes their relationship as ‘good little buddies.’
The proud nanna added: “I usually look after him, but this time he looked after me.
“He has got such a level head and can already think for himself, he is a lovely little boy.”
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Weather for Thorne
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
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