Woman who asked Liverpool people for help overwhelmed

A woman living in Australia who asked people from Liverpool to help her dad in a local hospital was so overwhelmed by the kindness of the responses it made her cry.

Emma Herrick asked on social media on Saturday if there was any way of getting newspapers that weekend to her father, Roy, 84, who is in Aintree Hospital's acute cardiac care unit.

She was "blown away" with the stream of offers on Facebook group Crosby Bubble from staff and hospital visitors, with one woman, Joanne Walsh - whose dad is also in the unit - hand-delivering Roy a newspaper, magazine, chocolate and a drink within hours.

"She has a heart of gold," Emma said, adding it was a reminder, "Scousers are the best in the world".

Emma, who has lived in Perth, Australia, for 15 years, said her father was bored because the trolley that sold newspapers did not come round at weekends and he was unable to make it to the cafe in the hospital that sold papers.

So she posted on Crosby Bubble asking if there were any businesses that delivered newspapers and magazines and, within minutes, she said she had a flurry of offers to help.

"I was blown away by the responses and how lovely people can be in the world," the 51-year-old said.

Joanne, a florist from Liverpool, took Emma's dad in a copy of the Liverpool Echo, a Lancashire Life magazine, chocolate and a juice.

"What a star. It was so lovely, when she is going through worry with her own dad in hospital she put herself out."

Emma's dad was taken aback, too, when Joanne popped in with the goodies.

"He was really touched," Emma said.

Emma said Joanne would not let her or her father reimburse her either.

"She has a heart of gold. I'm so grateful," Emma said, adding it was "incredible" that, despite living thousands of miles away, the power of social media and the "stars aligning" connected her with Joanne, whose dad is in the next room to Roy's in Aintree Hospital.

Joanne, 49, has played down the act of kindness. although she said: "Scousers are just the best".

"I would like to think if I was in a similar situation then people would do the same for me."

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