Lucky Escape For Window Cleaner

Good Samaritan rescues man left clinging to roof: A local window cleaner was left clinging to the roof of a home for half an hour last week as fierce gusts knocked over his ladders, leaving him struggling to stay on the roof. Yet even as he clung onto the roof traffic drove by as he called for help with only one good Samaritan stopping to help, which he believes saved him from a broken leg or worse.

Stoneyford man Neil Gardner, from Classic Cleaning, was on a sloping roof as he cleaned windows near the Down Royal Racecourse when the drama began last Thursday. He was left clinging onto the roof from 16 feet in the air for around half an hour.

Neil said: “It was only about 15 to 16 feet high, but I would have broken my leg at least if I had fallen. I am very grateful to the person who stopped for me. I was calling for help but there was nobody around and the homes were all empty because it was the middle of the day.  “I tried to wave down traffic but only one lorry stopped and then drove on saying they couldn’t help me; who would do that to another human being? “It was horrible anticipating how to jump down, wondering if I could reach nearby bushes to break my fall.”

Neil added: “The person who helped me showed up in a builder’s lorry and he found the ladders that had blown off the side of the house, which allowed me to get down. All I really want is to thank the guy who saved me and say thanks very much, I very much appreciate it.”

Neil, who has been cleaning windows for 18 years, says this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened. The incident also meant that he was late to collect his four-year-old and one-year-old children from Nursery. Despite his ordeal, he says that it won’t put him off in the future. “This has never happened to me before, besides, I’ve got to pay the mortgage” he said.

Derry Window Cleaner Dies After Ladder Fall

Derry window cleaner dies after ladder fall: Derry City FC steward Paddy McDermott passed away in hospital this afternoon just days after sustaining serious head injuries in a fall. The 45-year-old, who owned a window cleaning business, fell from a ladder while cleaning guttering at a house in the Oakbridge area of the city on Monday. Mr. McDermott, from Hazelbank, was initially taken to Altnagelvin Hospital but was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he died yesterday.

Billy Scampton, Events Controller with Derry City FC, last night described his close friend as the “salt of the earth.” Mr. Scampton said his friend was “very well known” and “very well liked - particularly within Derry City FC circles.” “I’m sure I speak for everyone at the club - in particular the stewards - when I say we’re heartbroken at the loss of Paddy. “Not only have we lost a good friend but the club has lost a very valuable individual who played a key role at Brandywell on match days.

“I’ve been working with Paddy for 15 years and I can say without hesitation that he will be a very big loss to the club. “We worked hand in glove together and we were part of the FAI-winning Match Day Management Team for the 2010 season. “We had just been working on contingency and emergency plans for the forthcoming season for Derry City Council. “In fact, I was just about to phone him when I received the news of his accident.” Mr. Scampton said his friend “would have given you the shirt off his back.” “He was a tireless worker on behalf of the club and our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time,” he added.

Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney, a friend of Mr. McDermott, said he was deeply saddened to hear of his death. “I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my regards to Paddy’s family,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”