CALLINGTON postman Neil Rutherford has been hailed a hero after rushing to the aid of an injured woman he found slumped in her porch. The 32-year-old postman, who has worked for Royal Mail for three and a half years, came to the pensioner's aid after she broke her leg during a fall in her garden. She fell outside her home on the Horsebridge Road in South Alston and managed to drag herself to the porch where she lay in agony for almost three hours until Neil arrived. He called an ambulance and ran to get the woman's sister and daughter-in-law from nearby homes as she was asking for them. Neil then waited for the ambulance to arrive and stood at the bottom of the remote property to make sure the crew could find their way. Neil said: 'When I arrived with her post it was a shock to find her slumped in the porch and her leg was quite obviously broken. 'Although she had been lying there for several hours she was quite calm but wanted her relatives with her. 'I don't think what I did was heroic but I'm glad I arrived when I did. Her sister was due to visit a couple of hours later but at least I got there earlier to help.' The woman was assessed by paramedics but had to be taken to hospital by air ambulance because of her condition. She is now making a good recovery. The incident happened towards the end of October but Neil's manager Rob Kruyswijk, of Callington Delivery Office on Moss Side Industrial Estate, held a special award ceremony for him on Tuesday to praise his actions. 'What Neil did was over and above the call of duty and I want to recognise this,' said Rob. 'He is an outstanding young man who really cares about his customers. Neil did a remarkable thing and is the type of person who does anything for anyone. He gives such a lot to the community.' Rob is also putting Neil forward for the Royal Mail's 1st Class Hero annual awards which reward postmen and women across the UK for their bravery, charity and community work.
