A COUPLE have praised emergency services for going miles beyond the call of duty when a trip to a concert turned into a nightmare.
Paralysed George Gough, 45, of Beechwood Road, Mirfield, found he could not get back home from a concert at King George's Hall, Blackburn, on Sunday after losing the keys to his Honda Civic crook lock.
The crisis happened after he had seen a concert by guitarist Steve Hacket.
But after losing the keys, he and partner of 19-years Denise Tofts, 53, wound up stranded for four hours until firefighters offered to drive them 50 miles home to Huddersfield.
Denise today revealed the brilliant night became a borderline medical crisis.
George, who has been paralysed from the neck down for 18 years, risked becoming dehydrated and damaging his catheter.
"The emergency crews were just brilliant," she said.
"They not only gave George some water but tried to break off the lock.
"When they realised that was not going to work they offered to drive us home in one of their cars which was a life saver. It took more than an hour.
"A night in a hotel was not feasible without the hoist I need to get George in bed and we could not get him in the recovery van.
"It is surprising but things like this make you feel so vulnerable and George was in tears.
"I can only think the key has snapped off my key ring when I got the tickets out of my bag but I searched and searched."
A recovery vehicle drove the car back to Mirfield and the couple are hoping to make a donation to the fire service as way of thanks.
