Flood rescue thank-you delights girl

SHE may be small - but young Courtney McAssey played a big role in helping a stricken pensioner caught in the rising floodwaters in June.

Courtney, aged eight, was involved in the dramatic rescue of 86-year-old Evelyn Butterworth who was piggy-backed to safety by army cadet Lance Goodman.

She got into difficulty near Sheffield Wednesday's football ground in Hillsborough as she tried to make her way home to Longley during the torrential rain on June 25.

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Thanks to 16-year-old Lance she was whisked to safety on his back but it was Courtney's quick-thinking that came into play once she was safely back on dry land.

"We happened to be parked up near by because we had been trying to get to the hospital as Courtney was unwell," said her mum Michelle Charles, 29.

"She has some problems with her kidneys and was in pain at the time. We had stopped and we were walking around trying to see if there was a way through when we heard someone shouting.

"Then we saw the cadet carrying an elderly lady and Courtney said 'Mum we have to help her' and she rushed off to get a blanket from the car to wrap Mrs Butterworth in."

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"I told her that if necessary she could stay at our house but some how we got her safely back to Longley."

Michelle and Courtney took Evelyn back to her house and helped her inside to make sure she was ok.

But just as they arrived, Evelyn's phone started to ring - it was her daughter calling to check she had got home ok.

"I heard Courtney pick up the phone and say 'my name's Courtney, and I've brought your mum home. She's alright but she's a bit cold'."

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After making sure Evelyn was OK, Courtney was delighted when a few weeks later she received a card.

"Mrs Butterworth sent Courtney a card with 20, which was lovely," said Michelle.

"She did not expect to receive anything. I have always taught my kids to do the right thing because it is right, not for personal gain.

"But receiving the thank-you has been a real confidence boost for Courtney and she is really grateful.

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"Lance Goodman was a real hero and deserves recognition for what he did but it is lovely for Courtney to get a little bit of recognition too because she did everything she could."

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