A HELENSBURGH pensioner has issued a heartfelt public message of thanks to the good Samaritan who came to her aid after she suffered a fall in the town last month.

Margharita McCallum tripped and fell opposite the Commodore Hotel on April 15.

Margharita, 74, is now back home recovering at the Keil Court retirement housing complex in Hanover Street after spending two weeks in hospital.

She said: “I’d gone for a walk along the seafront and I was going to sit on a bench for a while and enjoy the view before walking back home.

“But I stepped off the edge of the grass and fell very heavily on my left side.

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“I suffered a dislocated shoulder, two fractures of the humerus, and a suspected fracture to my cheekbone.

“Fortunately a lovely young woman – an Australian named Sophie – saw it happen and rushed over to help.

“She was out walking her dog, Beans, and told me she would phone an ambulance since my phone was damaged when I fell.

“She sat with me until the ambulance came and made sure I was all right – although I don’t think Beans was too happy at having to sit and wait instead of going for a walk!”

Margharita returned to hospital on Friday (May 7) for a shoulder replacement, and got back home once again last Tuesday.

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“I was very sore at the time,” she continued. “I’m not in a lot of pain now, considering the damage, but I do have some nerve damage in my arm.

“Unfortunately none of my family are in Helensburgh any more but there are plenty of people in the retirement flats who look out for me, and the manager of the complex makes sure I’m still alive and kicking.

“I’ve been doing my shopping online, and I have regular contact with Heidi, a volunteer from Visiting Friends [the Helensburgh befriending charity].

“I used to do remedial massage so I knew I’d dislocated my shoulder and I was fairly sure I’d broken my arm.

“I still find it very difficult to write, text or type so I wanted to say thank you in public to Sophie, and Beans the dog, and everyone who helped me.”