Praise for Wakefield bin collectors who helped injured pensioner on busy road

The incident happened earlier this year and was revealed at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

Peterson Road, Wakefield
Author: David Spereall and Henry WinterPublished 25th Mar 2021

A group of kind-hearted binmen have been applauded after they cared for an injured pensioner as he lay stricken on a busy main road.

Refuse crews stopped work to see to the elderly man, who’d fallen and hurt himself on Peterson Road in Wakefield, and called an ambulance for him.

They then stayed with him and comforted until the emergency services arrived.

Peterson Road links Stanley Road with Wakefield’s Kirkgate roundabout and is busy with fast-moving traffic throughout the day.

The incident happened earlier this year and was revealed at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

The council’s Cabinet member for communities, Maureen Cummings, said: “I’ve always said our binmen are brilliant, but none moreso than the crews who were out emptying bins on Peterson Road recently.

“They came across an elderly resident who’d sadly fallen into the road and injured his face quite badly.

“They alerted the emergency services and stayed with the resident, comforting him until the ambulance arrived to take him away.

“I’d like to say a personal ‘thank you’ to the crew who did that.”

Binmen across the district were singled out for praise from the council and trade union UNISON last month for their efforts since the start of the pandemic and in particular during the snowy weather in January.

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