A pensioner says she has been left with a big lump on her head after a postman refused to help her up following a fall.
Patricia Stewart, 72, shouted for help for around 20 minutes after slipping on ice and hitting her head outside her home.
When the distraught gran-of-two, from Bainsford, Falkirk, Scotland, saw the postman she thought her ordeal was over.
However the callous postie simply walked past her, saying ‘I can’t help you pal, I’m knackered’, despite her pleas for assistance.
Patricia told The Sun: “Twenty minutes I was shouting ‘help’ and I was crying.
“I was lying partly in the snow and I banged my head. She added: “Even if he was knackered, at the end of the day that’s his job.”
The gran said she now has a lump the size of an egg on her head.
Her family are furious with the postman, describing his behaviour as ‘disgusting’.
Shocked niece Sheryl Harkins, 36, said: “He left her really upset and feeling worthless.
“It is unbelievable. When I got told about it I thought there was some kind of misunderstanding.
“I care for my aunt and I visit her four times a day, but she could have been lying there for three hours and caught hypothermia.
“He could have told someone down the street, all our neighbours are fantastic they would do anything to help anyone.
“It is just really so disgusting, the neighbours would have gone to help but nobody heard her shouting.”
Hermes worker Karolina Domska, 22, went to Pat’s aid and later popped round to see how she was.
Admin worker Sheryl added: “It was the coldest night in the UK for 26 years and he left my aunt lying on the ground.
“It just goes against everything, you wouldn’t treat a dog like that.”
She was stunned when a neighbour showed her video footage and has only been able to watch it twice.
She added: “When I was told about this I couldn’t believe it was true.
“I thought there must be some misunderstanding.
“Then when I saw the video footage I was just disgusted.
“I can’t accept this – it’s no way for someone to treat another human being.”
Luckily Hermes delivery worker Karolina was in the area and provided the assistance the postman failed to deliver, staying with Pat and calling for help from neighbours.
Sheryl said Pat was now recovering at home and had a nasty bump on her head from the fall.
A manager from Royal Mail visited to speak to the family and an investigation has been launched.
Sheryl said: “I was not due to come round to see her for another three hours, so she could have still been lying there if it wasn’t for the Hermes girl.”
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail expect the highest standards of behaviour from our people while out on deliveries and collections at all times.
“We regularly remind our postmen and postwomen of the important role they play in their local communities.
“We were very sorry to learn about this incident, and for the distress this incident has caused.
“We are in touch with the customer concerned and will be investigating this incident.”