Postman who left woman, 72, lying in snow after fall fired by Royal Mail

Charlie Herbert

The pensioner was left on the ground for 20 minutes before a delivery driver found her

A postman who refused to help up an elderly woman who had slipped on some ice because he was “absolutely knackered” has been sacked from his job.

Thomas McCafferty ignored the pleas of 72-year-old Patricia Stewart as she lay on the steps of her home in Falkirk last February.

Footage of the moment was captured on a neighbour’s camera doorbell.

When she asked McCafferty for help, the Royal Mail worker responded: “I can’t help pal, I’m a bit knackered. Absolutely knackered.”

The postman can be seen walking off, with Patricia still on the ground outside her home, on the left (credit: Sheryl Harkin)

Stewart was discovered on the ground 20 minutes later by 22-year-old Karolina Domska, a Hermes driver, who found the pensioner crying in the snow and helped her back into her house.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We can confirm that the individual concerned has left the business. We are sorry for the distress this incident has caused.”

Stewart, who has osteoporosis, told The Daily Record: “The postman had just delivered two very small parcels for me and he had left them on the step.

“When I went to get them I felt a bit dizzy and I just went down from the top step.

“The postman was walking away so he didn’t see the fall but I shouted for help and I asked if he could help me get up, but he just said he was knackered and walked off and left me there lying in snow.

“I was lying there for a wee while, I was absolutely soaking wet and freezing.”

Her niece Sheryl said that a Royal Mail area manager visited Stewart to apologise in person and bring her chocolates.

A Royal Mail spokesperson 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.”

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