Samaritans

A HOMELESS epileptic man from Exmouth, who was left lying on the floor and ignored by passers-by on a busy Saturday afternoon, while he had a fit, wants to thank three young Good Samaritans for lending a hand.Nick Condliffe, 40, an epileptic since 1995, had been on Exmouth seafront with partner of two-and-a-half-years Andrea Clarke, also 40, when he collapsed in an Exmouth seafront shelter. Unable to lift her partner from the floor to safety, once the major fit had started, Andrea, who lives at St Andrew's House, in St Andrew's Road, called out for help but her plight was ignored by scores of passers-by.The pair believe they were ignored by people falsely thinking Nick was drunk. With no mobile phone and no way of contacting the emergency services, Andrea said she felt the panic rise when she realised no-one was coming forward to help.Now the pair want to send their heartfelt thanks via the Journal to three youths who helped Nick, who lives in a camper van, and Andrea in their hour of need.Phoning for an ambulance and slowing the traffic down on the seafront, the three youths, thought to be teenagers, waited with Andrea until medical help arrived.Mum-of-one Andrea said: "Nick collapsed on to the bench and had to be moved on to the floor."There were three boys sitting in the other side of the shelter. They had a mobile phone and phoned an ambulance and stayed with Nick and me until it came. They showed the ambulance where to go and stopped the traffic from getting in the way. "We didn't catch their names, but they were fantastic. We would like to say thank you to them for bothering because some people didn't - some thought Nick was just drunk and had fallen on the floor."When Nick has a fit it is as traumatic for me as it is for him."People were looking and staring, thinking he was drunk, and when they saw me they didn't bother stopping."Sometimes Nick does drink but he's having treatment for that. He can't mix his epilepsy tablets with alcohol."Nick, who spent the night in hospital after collapsing and suffered two more fits, said: "Andrea told me about the three lads and I would just like to say thank you to them for looking after Andrea."l Do you know the three Good Samaritans who helped Nick and Andrea? Contact the Journal reporters on (01392) 888505.