WELSH international football boss Chris Coleman has been thanked by police after helping to reunite a missing and vulnerable elderly woman with her worried family in Haverfordwest, the Western Telegraph can reveal.
The former Fulham and Real Sociedad manager was travelling to Pembrokeshire College last Tuesday evening for a talk and question and answer session organised by Haverfordwest County Football Club.
As Mr Coleman drove to the event, he saw an elderly woman looking confused near the busy Merlins Bridge roundabout. Concerned for her safety, he stopped to help.
The woman, who seemed disorientated, told the Wales manager that she was from Haverfordwest but that she was lost and could not remember where she lived.
The 42-year-old former defender took the woman – who had been reported missing – into his car and drove around the local area hoping that the woman would recognise her street. But when she failed to get her bearings, Mr Coleman telephoned ahead to his colleagues at the college to tell them about the situation and asked them to contact police.
He then drove to the college where she was given a cup of tea and police arrived to return the woman to her family.
Mr Coleman, who took over the Wales job following the sudden death of Gary Speed, told the Western Telegraph he was happy to help.
He said: “I had stopped off to see Des Shanklin [former Football Association of Wales president] in Pembroke Dock, and when I made my way to the college I actually missed the turning to go up the hill,” he said. “I was about to try and turn around when I noticed an old lady at the side of the road. She seemed very disorientated and distressed.
“I asked if she was okay and she said she lived in Haverfordwest but she was lost. So I got her in the car and we drove around a bit to see if she could remember where she lived but she couldn’t.
“I rang my colleagues, who were already at Pembrokeshire College, to say I was taking her there and asked if they could contact the police. When we got there she had nice cup of tea and thankfully, the police were able to return her home safely. She had already been reported missing, so I’m just happy I was able to help her.”
Mr Coleman continued with a successful evening at the college, attended by around 150 people, and happily gave autographs and posed for photographs.
A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police told the Western Telegraph: “Dyfed-Powys Police would like to thank Mr Coleman for his assistance with a vulnerable member of the public. We fully appreciate he was travelling to an engagement during his busy schedule – yet still took time to ensure the safety of an individual who was in need of help.”
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