An elderly wheelchair user who feared she would miss her best friend’s funeral was saved by a “fantastic act of kindness” – when burly fire-fighters CARRIED her there.
The partially-sighted 89-year-old was lifted from car to church pew by the kind-hearted men so she could pay her respects to her friend of 50 years.
Great grandmother Muriel, who lives in a retirement complex in Cheltenham, had worried she wouldn’t be able to tackle the church steps to get inside for the service.
She was overwhelmed when the rescuers, from Cheltenham Fire Station, responded to a community appeal issued by her carers for a helping hand.
Rev. Richard Reakes, the vicar of the Church of the Ascension in Southam, described the
gesture as a “fantastic act of kindness”.
Both Muriel and Clare were regular members of the congregation.
He said: “Sadly, Muriel is not very mobile and the access to the church is difficult with many high steps. She might not be able to attend the funeral of her dear friend.
“The local fire brigade responded very generously by sending three firefighters to lift Muriel in her wheelchair up the steps.
“I am always greatly touched when people go beyond the call of duty and do fantastic acts of kindness and this is a case in point.
“I know Muriel greatly appreciated what was done for her and that she was able to give her respects in person to her great friend.”
Speaking after the funeral on Thursday, Tina Savage, 57, warden of the complex where Muriel lives, said: “I told Muriel I would do whatever I could to get her to the funeral.
“Because of the steps it isn’t possible for her to get into the church any more, so I put an appeal out on the local radio station for some burly firemen.
“Sure enough, the local fire service came up with three guys and lifted her in.
“I drove her there and we transferred her from the car to the wheelchair. They took it from there and lifted her inside.
“She is such a beautiful lady. It meant the world to her to be able to pay her last respects to a friend of 50 years.
“To be able to go to the church you haven’t been able to go to for so long was so lovely for her as well. It was fantastic.”
