The family of a County Durham man taken to hospital by a kind-hearted stranger have sent a message of thanks to the generous helper who looked after him.
Joseph Halpin’s family were shocked and worried last Friday (June 24) when they received a phone call saying he had been taken into A&E after leaving his Ushaw Moor home to meet his friends for a drink at a city centre pub.
But thanks to the help of a compassionate stranger who found Joseph, 77, after a fall and drove him to hospital, he arrived safely at the accident and emergency department at University Hospital of North Durham to be cared for by doctors.
Now his family want to thank the kind-hearted individual who helped Joseph to safety.
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His daughter, Lisa Smith, 52, told The Northern Echo: “We just want to say a massive thank you to whoever found my dad.
“All the hospital know is that someone brought him in and said they had found him after he’d fallen and put him in their car to take him to the hospital.
“My mam was thinking that someone could have stolen anything from him but his wallet, bus pass and driving license were all still there.
“It’s just a massive thank you that someone would do this.”
Doctors have since diagnosed Joseph with a brain tumour after having a scan when we arrived at hospital and his family want to speak to whoever helped him to express their gratitude.
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Joseph was wearing a pale blue shirt, dark blue tracksuit bottoms and black jacket when he was found on Friday.
He left home at around 12.30pm and was admitted to the hospital at 3.11pm.
The family are not sure where he was found but believe he would have been somewhere between his Ushaw Moor home and the Ye Old Elm Tree pub in the City of Durham where he was planning on meeting some friends for a couple of pints.
If you helped Joseph last Friday (June 24) please email daniel.hordon@newsquest.co.uk and The Echo will be able to put you in touch with the family.
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