AN ASDA delivery driver has been lauded a life saver after hearing a 90-year-old's distress signal in Queensferry.
ASDA home shopping driver, Sam Speechley sprang into action upon hearing Keith Turner, 90, sound an SOS morse code signal on his car horn.
Keith, who had slipped on his driveway at his home near Garden City broke his hip, but managed to drag himself into his car to sound the alarm signal.
Sam said: "I was delivering some shopping to residents in the Garden City area when I pulled up outside a customer's house.
"When I got out of the van I heard someone toot a car horn. It kept going on and it was like a Morse code pattern. It just sounded like an SOS to me; something just didn't feel right.
"I walked down the road to the house in the corner and I saw a gentleman (Keith) lying in his driveway next to his car and he was half way in the car and tooting his horn."
Sam, 45, who has been working at ASDA in Queensferry for two years added: "At the time he'd suspected he'd broken his hip, as he couldn't move his legs. I asked if I could go into his house and made him a cup of tea, got him a blanket and some cushions. As it was pouring down and freezing his neighbour got two large umbrellas to put over him."
Sam proceeded to knock on neighbours' doors to get some assistance and an ambulance was called, as was Keith's son, Philip. Sam's son, Taylor also arrived to stay with Keith for over an hour until Phillip arrived.
She added: "We just talked about his life; his late wife, railways and Land Rovers. All sorts of things really just to keep him occupied as he was in a lot of pain. I think he was pleased that I was there. He reminded me of my own grandfather and if it was a member of my family in that situation I would have hoped someone would have helped them."
After spending three weeks in hospital, Keith is now back home and was full of praise for Sam.
"Sam saved my life, she really did, and I can't thank her enough. I'd been laying there in the rain and cold for half an hour and if she hadn't come along when she did I don't think I'd have made it. She's a Godsend.
He added: "I heard the Asda van pull up, so I managed to get to the car horn. I didn't want to press it continuously as people may have thought it was the car alarm going off so I pressed it intermittently so it probably sounded like SOS. I was so pleased to see Sam when she came over."
"Sam was lovely; we chatted for ages and she kept me distracted as I was in a lot of pain."
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Keith's daughter-in-law, Emma got in touch with 'amazing' Sam to thank her personally for her kind actions - and to offer an update on her father-in-law's condition who had indeed broken his hip, she said: "We can't thank Sam enough for what she did. She is amazing.
"We are so happy that she was there. She never left him at all, she reassured him and was so lovely, caring and kind.
"She really did go above her job role."
Sam's manager, Nicky Fitzgerald was also full of praise for her colleague and proceeded to nominate Sam for an Asda service superstar award: "To recognise the sounding of the car horn as a sign of distress was just unbelievable.
"To look after the gentleman for all that time is Sam all over. She's just such a caring person.
"She went above and beyond for the gentleman that day. She even phoned the store so we could rearrange her deliveries so she could stay with the gentleman."
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