A 14 year old Year 9 student from St Bonaventure’s In Boleyn Road, Forest Gate, has been praised for his actions by his Headteacher after helping a collapsed school chum in Capel Road on Tuesday night, March 20.

The drama unfolded after school when Dre Emmanuel was on his way home from a football match on Wanstead Flats where he had been playing in the quarter final of the London Cup against Thomas Tallis School from Blackheath.

After going to a penalty shoot out the team lost and the players began to make their way home. Dre noticed that one of the players, Matthew Lopez looked unwell and was walking on ahead. Matthew then collapsed on the ground with chest pains and that’s when Dre rushed to a nearby house and asked the resident to call an ambulance.

Quite some time passed and help still hadn’t arrived but Dre insisted on waiting with him despite being told it could take another two hours for an ambulance to attend. When it did arrive, Dre was adamant that he should go with him to hospital and wouldn’t leave his side until Matthew’s mum came. He underwent tests for shortness of breath and had an ECG but was released later that night.

Headteacher, Paul Halliwell, was told what had happened by Sam Bartlett who is the Curriculum Leader for PE at the school and he called Dre into his office and presented him with a Headteacher’s Commendation for his good deed.

Today, March 22, it was decided that Dre should receive the February Jack Petchey Award for putting others needs before his own and being a loyal and thoughtful friend during a lengthy time when others might have withdrawn their support.

Mr Halliwell concluded: “I am really proud of Dre for what he did and I know Matthew was grateful too. Not many teenagers would have stayed so long waiting but Dre was determined he wouldn’t leave his teammate and I think that is wonderful.”

Dre is deciding how to spend his award money.