MAY I please through your newspaper most sincerely thank and praise the actions of the several medical rescuers who reacted in such a wonderfully positive manner when my elderly neighbour misjudged the height of the pavement kerb in Canal Road, Tavistock, on Sunday afternoon en route to the Steam Fair. He fell and sustained a nasty cut over his right eye.

Immediately on the scene was a young lady who had been walking just behind us, enjoying the lovely summer day, apparently in the company of her family.

She announced herself to be a trained nurse and offered to assist. Without any hesitation she began to attend so gently, caringly and yet professionally to my stricken neighbour as he lay on the pavement. Such wonderful people are never ‘off duty’.

We were joined by several members of the St John Ambulance service who again administered the aid needed in an exemplary manner.

I was then able to take my patched-up friend to the minor injuries unit at Tavistock Hospital where he received a very thorough MOT and was given suitable treatment and advice before I was allowed to take him home.

To all these wonderful people can I express deep thanks and gratitude. They show so much caring concern for their fellow man in time of need and obviously follow a quite different code of ethics to those who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Perhaps politicians both local and national should take note.

Trevor Sanders

Tavistock