London-Irishman saves life of elderly football fan
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London-Irishman saves life of elderly football fan

THE IRISH hero who saved the life of a fellow football fan after taking it upon himself to make sure he was alright has said he was only doing “what anyone else would do”.

Harrow-based Ray O’Rourke was moved to act after his elderly friend Edward Fry failed to turn up to see their beloved Wealdstone FC play on Easter Saturday.

The 50-year-old grew worried when Mr Fry, believed to be in his late 70s, failed to return his phone calls over the following days.

Mr O’Rourke, whose parents are from Galway, then decided to go to Mr Fry’s home in South Harrow and found his friend semi-conscious on the floor of his bedroom.

Mr Fry was initially taken to hospital but was moved to a care home after his condition improved.

“I spoke to Edward today and he’s on the mend now,” Mr O’Rourke told The Irish Post on Monday.

“He has started walking around and can’t wait to get home. We have been going to football together for years and I am so relieved that he is going to be okay.”

He added: “It was very distressing when we found him. We didn’t know how long he was on the floor when we found him. He couldn’t get to the phone to get help.”

But the good Samaritan was reluctant to accept that he is a “hero”.

“I was just doing what anybody else would do really,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“In fact I did less than his neighbour, who is also Irish. She was the one who let me into his flat and phoned the ambulance, so she should get as much credit as me.”