Heroic refuse collector praised after helping resident

Archived press release

Date Published: 17/02/12

Gareth Cleaver and Maria Stamp

An Aylesbury resident received more than just a waste collection this week after one of the district council’s refuse collectors called in with a bunch of flowers.

Recently, Maria Stamp, aged 43, of Meadow Way, collapsed at the end of her driveway as she was trying to make her way to the nearby Poplar Grove Practice. She was feeling very poorly and her blood pressure had dropped to a dangerously low level.

Aylesbury Vale District Council refuse collector Gareth Cleaver, who was on his rounds in the area, saw Ms Stamp was in distress and rushed to her aid. He managed to catch her before she hit the ground, scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the doctor’s surgery.

Gareth alerted the surgery staff who acted swiftly in calling for an ambulance. Ms Stamp, who has lived with a rare form of endocrine cancer since the age of 13, was then taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for treatment.

Speaking after the incident, Gareth said: “She was in a lot of pain and could hardly walk. I picked her up in my arms and carried her to the surgery. She was very thankful for what I had done.”

Yesterday(16 February), Gareth called in to see how Ms Stamp was doing and presented her with a bunch of flowers.

She had nothing but praise for the refuse collector, saying: “I can’t thank Gareth enough. He saved me from collapsing in the middle of the road. If no one had been there at that point then I would have fallen and hit my head. It could have been pretty nasty.”

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Gareth for coming to Ms Stamp’s aid. He reacted quickly to avert what could have been a tragedy. I am proud that the council has such quick-thinking employees who respond swiftly and with kindness to the needs of others.”