Teens rescue a man on mobility scooter

SIX students from Canterbury High School have been praised for going to the aid of an elderly man who was stranded on his mobility scooter.

The group of 16-year-olds discovered the man outside the school gates in Knight Avenue after his battery ran down.

They ended up pushing his heavy scooter up a hill all the way to his home.

Headmaster Phil Karnavas said: "They are a credit to the school. I am proud of all of them.

50% OFF OUR STANDARD FEES IN CANTERBURY & SURROUNDS

Denton Estate Agents

View details

Print voucher

To celebrate the opening of our new offices in Canterbury and Whitstable we are offering 50% off our standard selling fees on production of this voucher.

Terms: If you have instructed another agent on a sole agency and/or sale selling rights basis, the terms of those instructions must be considered to avoid possible liability to pay two commissions.

Contact: Whitstable 01227 208268

Valid until: Monday, September 30 2013

"It is refreshing to hear about youngsters being thoughtful, polite and selfless."

Once the pupils reached the man's house he offered to give them all £20. But they refused.

Shannon-Louise Eagar of Yorkletts, said: "There was no way we were going to take that sort of money from an elderly gentleman."

It had been her last day at school and she had been on her way to a leaving party.

But the six – Shannon-Louise, Ryan Hilton, Ryan Jackson, Martin Christoff, James Skeet and Grant Phillips – took time out to ensure the man reached his home safely.

Shannon-Louise's dad Nick Eagar said: "Realising the man was elderly and unlikely to be an eccentric local millionaire they declined his kind offer of £20 each.

"When he insisted on giving them some kind of reward the group eventually accepted £1 each for a can of drink after their exertions.

"I'm very proud of Shannon-Louise's actions but it's no less than I would have expected from her. She's a very kind and selfless young lady."

Mr Eager, a policeman, has since written to the school. He said: "I wanted the school to be aware of the thoughtfulness of a number of its pupils who, seeing someone in a bit of a fix, took the time to help him."

He added: "Young people get a bad enough reputation as it is and this is testimony that most are thoughtful and caring. These students are a credit to the school."

Shannon-Louise said: "I could see the man wasn't going anywhere and asked if he was all right. He said he was stuck. He looked worn out and out of breath.

"I sent a text to my mum because I wasn't sure what to do. At first we thought we might have to call the police but then we decided to help."

One of the man's relatives arrived by car and took him home while the students spent 30 minutes struggling with the scooter.

In a letter of praise to Shannon-Louise, Mr Karnavas said: "You and your friends acted in the very best possible way and I am extremely proud that you are a student at my school. It is a magnificent advertisement for the school and your generation."

Shannon-Louise, who is now working as a waitress at the White Lion pub, Selling, is hoping to return to the sixth form to study A levels in business, maths, English and travel and tourism.

She said: "By the time we got the scooter to the man's house he had the kettle on and was looking a lot better."