In 2017, schoolboys Devonte Cafferkey, Sammy Farah, and Shawn Young were walking to buy snacks in Waltham Cross when they spotted a man about to jump from an A10 overpass, prompting Devonte and Sammy to hold him through the railings while Shawn flagged down driver Joanne Stammers to help restrain him until emergency workers arrived.
Following their heroic rescue, Devonte Cafferkey, Sammy Farah, and Shawn Young were honoured with prestigious national awards, including the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award and Certificates of Commendation from the Royal Humane Society.
As the boys desperately tried to talk him down, the man handed them his mobile phone and told them, “If it rings, don’t answer it,” right before Devonte and Sammy had to physically grab him through the railings to stop him from jumping.
The boys later appeared on This Morning to discuss their heroic actions with hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
During their appearance on This Morning, Devonte Cafferkey recalled being the first to arrive and trying to comfort the crying man, telling him, “You’ve got family and stuff, it’s not worth it,” to persuade him not to jump.
The schoolboys were aided by 47-year-old Joanne Stammers, who rushed to help hold the man despite being registered disabled with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome, a rare condition that leaves her highly prone to blood clotting.
Despite her rare condition preventing her from working, Joanne selflessly took over from the boys and desperately held onto the struggling man for what she described as “forever,” sustaining severe bruising as a result of her extended effort to keep him secure until emergency workers arrived.
Another passerby, James Higlett, also played a crucial role in saving the man’s life by rushing over to assist the group and using his strength to help hold him securely against the railings until emergency services arrived to safely rescue him.
All five individuals will be honoured with prestigious bravery awards from the Royal Humane Society, a renowned charity dedicated to recognising life-saving interventions, for their collective courage and quick actions in preventing the tragedy on the overpass.
Twelve-year-old Shawn’s mother, Carol, expressed immense pride in the boys’ maturity and humility, noting that they have simply “just got on with it” without seeking attention since their brave, life-saving rescue.
She expressed her immense pride by calling them all good boys and stating how wonderful it is that they are being recognised for doing something so positive for their community.
Public commentators strongly argued that this inspiring rescue should be the top news story, praising the young boys as an absolute credit to their parents for saving a man’s life through their prompt and wonderful actions.
Public commentators highlighted that while youngsters very often receive a really bad press, it is incredibly lovely to see such a positive story, offering a heartfelt “well done” to the lads for proving to be an inspiration and a credit to their generation.
Public commentators praised the schoolboys for showing maturity well beyond their years to save a life despite how frightening it must have been to witness an adult in such severe distress, expressing immense happiness that they are receiving well-deserved awards for their bravery.
