Dad and son knew what to do after spotting bloodied man in street

A dad and lad have been praised after helping a man they found with blood pouring from his head.

Maria Donnelly was walking her dog in Waterloo in the heavy rain late on Sunday night. The 59-year-old turned onto Marine Terrace before noticing a gazebo set up in the middle of the road.

When she approached, she found a man and a boy tending to a man who was "in a bad way".

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She told the ECHO: "Underneath the gazebo was a man covered in a blanket or tarpaulin. He was injured with blood pouring from his head and he had been put in the recovery position on his side by a man, who had spotted him while driving past in his van, and his son who was about 14.

"The driver had taken the gazebo from the back of his van and erected it over the injured man to protect him. Under the light of torches he was urging the man to stay conscious.

"He had learned his name was Gary and was saying 'Gary, stay with us Gary, let’s count from one to five again, one… two…three… stay with us Gary, what day of the week is it?' And on it went until the paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later."

Maria didn't know who the quick-thinking father and son were, only getting their first names: Rob (dad) and Charlie (boy). She told Charlie: "Your dad is a hero, you will be very proud."

When the ambulance came and stretchered Gary away, the pair dismantled the gazebo "in seconds", telling Maria: “You just do what you have to do".

She said: "Moments later they were gone. They were very modest but they might have saved a man's life that night."

North West Ambulance Service said: "An ambulance responded to a patient requiring medical attention following a call at 22.43. A man was taken to hospital for further treatment."

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