TWO boys rushed to the rescue of an elderly couple who fell on the pavement in Bridport on Monday.

Despite their prompt actions in finding an adult to ring 999 the couple, who both sustained head injuries, were left in sweltering heat for two and a half hours.

William Howell and his friend Owen Attwooll, both 11, and Sir Colfox Academy pupils, were walking into town around lunchtime.

William said: “We heard this thump and saw two elderly people had fallen over. We had to run to the nearest adult to ask them to call an ambulance.”

“We stayed but is was taking awhile so we went and came back and they were still there so we stayed until the ambulance came.”

William’s dad Andrew said he and wife Katy drummed into their children never to walk past someone in trouble.

He said: “I am really proud of him. He knows the score that if someone is in trouble to help them and he did and it was brilliant.”

Neighbour Sally Townsend-Perry, who lives in Brydian Court said the couple Bill, 97, and Norma Nutman were eventually taken to Dorset County Hospital.

She said: “The lads thought they were a couple of crash test dummies because they weren’t moving. There was nobody else on the street and they saw one of their eyes move and realised it was serious and they sped off to find an adult. The couple had nasty head injuries, blood everywhere and of course it was very, very hot.

“I sat there and talked to them and held a huge sun umbrella over them but it was two and a half hours before the paramedics turned up.

“These two young lads should be commended for their fast thinking. They didn’t panic and they behaved in an exemplary fashion and all the neighbours pulled together. It shows that there is care in the community.”

She said everybody was shocked at the long wait for the ambulance.

She said: “I am no spring chicken I am 58 and even I was struggling in the heat holding this umbrella.

“The old man was going into shock and the police turned up after about two hours and wrapped them in silver foil blankets.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We would like to apologise to the patients for the delay in responding and make an assurance that we are actively investigating the incident further. A total of three 999 calls were made on Monday August 15 reporting that two elderly people had fallen.

“Unfortunately, we were dealing with an extremely large volume of 999 calls at the time and unable to respond with an ambulance any sooner. The patients were treated by ambulance clinicians at the scene before they were taken to hospital for further assessment. We would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by those on scenewho gave immediate aid to the elderly couple before the ambulance arrived.”

It is believed the couple are still in hospital.