FOUR schoolboys have been commended for their quick-thinking actions in saving the life of an elderly man.

Pupils of St Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School, Alex Condliffe, Daniel Pitcher, Chris Darlow and Andrew Garrity, made use of their newly-acquired life-saving skills when they saw an 82-year-old man fall and injure his head on Bradford Road, Menston.

The boys - who are studying first aid as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme - had left school at 5.30pm on Wednesday February 20, when they saw passer-by Arthur Harrison fall badly and hit his head.

With the help of a passing bus driver, Brian Kitchen, they managed to put Mr Harrison in the recovery position, keep his airway open, and move him away from a pool of water on the ground.

Two of the teenagers, Andrew Condliffe and Chris Darlow, then sprinted to the nearby Menston Ambulance Station, for help, while the others comforted Mr Harrison and kept him warm.

An ambulance crew took over within minutes, and Mr Harrison is now said to be making a good recovery.

But the teenagers said nothing about the incident in school, which only found out when Mr Harrison's daughter, Patricia Baker, wrote to the school to thank the boys.

Mrs Baker, of Cookridge, is in no doubt that they saved her father's life.

She said: "I must say a big 'thank you' and ask that this kindness be recorded because without young people like this around the world would be a far worse place. A frail 82-year-old cannot survive those conditions very long, even without the severe injuries he had suffered to his head."

She offered to reward the boys for their actions.

l Above, Alex Condliffe, Daniel Pitcher, Chris Darlar and Andrew Garrity demonstrate their life-saving skills.

(WN104A)