Two brothers saved a toddler who ran into the middle of a dual carriageway to get an ice cream.
Kirklees Council road sweeper Gavin Scarlett-McKenzie and his brother Tristan leapt to the rescue of the small boy who was stranded in between two lanes on the busy and fast-moving Leeds Road.
It is thought the boy was trying to cross the road near Dixons Milk Ices on his own at 2pm on Monday.
The boy, who 37-year-old Gavin thinks was two-years-old, was only wearing pyjama trousers, socks and a vest when he and Tristan, 41, spotted him while having a chat outside the parlour near the Vine Street refuse depot.
Gavin, a father of three from Brook Meadows in Denby Dale, said that they were the only ones to help the boy, as drivers sounded their horns at the youngster.
“We couldn’t believe it at first”, said Gavin.
“We were chatting then suddenly heard lots of beeping so turned around and saw him standing in between the two Huddersfield-bound lanes.
“Two cars travelling on the lanes had stopped and were just beeping at him while he stood there frozen to the ground.
“He was being treated as if he was an animal by the drivers, it was pretty horrible really- we just couldn’t believe how people had reacted.
“No-one got out to help him so my brother and I just acted on instinct and raced across from our side, dodging cars who were speeding along the other way.
“It was pretty scary but the only thing on our minds was to help him.
“We picked him up and ran back to our side again and I just put him down on the floor and cuddled him.
“He was very confused and kept asking me to buy him an ice cream.”
Worringly, the boy’s parents could not be seen anywhere.
Gavin said: “My colleague, Kev Morris, was nearby and raced across the road to try find his parents.
“But while he was gone I decided to ring the police because we were worried that we wouldn’t find them– I really felt for him.
“Fortunately, nine minutes later his mum turned up and the police operator took her name and address.
“She must’ve been worried but said: ‘You should have waited if you wanted an ice cream’ and took him back home.
“I would have been besides myself if it had happened to my own child.
“I just hope that it makes his mum think twice and reminds people to make sure they know where their children are because it could easily have turned out a lot worse.
“He could’ve been knocked down or even wandered to the canal.”
