A schoolboy from Forest Gate has received an award after coming to the aid of his collapsed friend.
Dre Emmanuel, 14, was today handed a Jack Petchey Award and £250 for his selfless actions.
The Year 9 pupil at St Bonaventure’s was walking home from his football match against Thomas Tallis School on Tuesday evening when he spotted teammate Matthew Lopez looking unwell.
Matthew fell to the ground in Wanstead Flats, leaving Dre to run to a nearby house and ask the resident to call an ambulance.
He was told paramedics could take two hours to arrive but refused to leave his friend.
When help eventually came, Dre insisted on going with Matthew to hospital and stayed with him until his teammates’s mum arrived.
Matthew underwent an ECG and tests for shortness of breath but was released later that night.
“I am really proud of Dre for what he did,” said his headteacher, Paul Halliwell.
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