Sam saved from pack of dogs. WHEN Bob Ashworth saw a pack of six dogs attacking seven-year-old Sam Leverett he did not think twice about rushing in to save his life.

The schoolboy suffered horrific injuries in the attack but if it had not been for the quick actions of Bob, 56, of Tunnel Street, Burnley, the outcome could have been much worse.

Sam, of Broughton Street, Burnley, had been walking home from the shops along Tunnel Street on Saturday, March 1 when he was set upon by a pack of dogs, including Staffordshire bull terriers, a Jack Russell and German shepherd labrador cross.

The little boy suffered bites to his arms and legs during the attack and spent several days at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where he underwent three operations on his 80 wounds.

The attack on Sam, a pupil at Whittlefield Primary School, had been going on for five minutes and when Bob arrived at the scene, he said Sam was being thrown about 'like a rag doll'.

But without a thought for himself, Bob dived in to the pack, covering Sam from the dogs and fighting them off with a lead.

His brave efforts have already been recognised nationally when he and two teenagers - Hannah Sprowell and Licia Snape - who also helped in the rescue, attended a glittering reception at Downing Street last month.

They met the Prime Minister Tony Blair and were presented with a national bravery award. They were also honoured at a civic ceremony at Burnley Town Hall in April, where former Mayor Gordon Birtwistle and council leader Stuart Caddy presented them with their certificates.

Bob, who has two young grandchildren, fought back the tears when he saw Sam for the first time since the attack.

He was described by Sam's grandad, Ron Topping, as their 'number one hero' and was praised by Sam's father, Jeff, and Sam himself who thanked him for saving his life..

Lynne took the ultimate risk for sake of her son. WHEN Garry Morgan needed a kidney transplant, his mum Lynne automatically thought nothing of risking her life to give him one of her own.

Time was running out for 22-year-old Garry, who needed the transplant because of an hereditary kidney disorder which has also affected his father.

Lynne, of Harrison Drive, Colne, had almost lost her husband, Steve, four years earlier after he was diagnosed with a kidney disorder.

He had been on dialysys every four hours, seven days a week and at one point was given four weeks to live.

Four years ago he received a kidney from an unknown donor, but only two years later they found out Garry had the same condition.

When Lynne was told her son had less than 12 months to live there was no doubt in her mind what she had to do.

She found out she was a match for Garry and underwent the operation to save her son's life.

Lynne had complications herself as the wound where surgeons removed her kidney had opened on the inside.

Now all three are on the road to recovery and just one month after Garry received the kidney, his girlfriend Jane found out she was pregnant with Lynne's first grandchild.

Garry described his mum as "one in a million".

He said: "To give me one of her kidneys to allow me to live and become a father to her first grandchild is surely the ultimate gift of life."

Nurse went beyond the call of duty. CASUALTY nurse Kathryn Crossley has been trained to help people in need, but when a man collapsed on her own doorstep she went beyond the call of duty to save his life.

Kathryn, of Whalley New Road, Wilpshire, had just arrived home from work, in January this year, when she was called on to use her skills to resuscitate Ronald Harding, 60, who doctors later said had been technically dead for seven minutes.

He had been involved in a serious car accident outside her house after being taken ill at the wheel and colliding with another car.

She had been on the telephone to her mother when she heard a bump and she rushed outside to help Mr Harding from his car and on to the pavement.

A neighbour said he began to shake and collapsed on the floor with a suspected heart attack.

He had stopped breathing and had no pulse and ambulance staff said if it had not been for Kathryn's quick thinking and expertise he would have been dead.

Kathryn shouted to her husband to call an ambulance while she started carrying out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage on the man.

She continued with this for five to 10 minutes while neighbours directed the passing traffic and when the ambulance and a doctor arrived the man was sitting up.

He was released from hospital a week later and brought Kathryn a bouquet of flowers to thank her for saving his life.

Kathryn is a 34-year-old married mother-of-four who has worked at Blackburn Royal Infirmary's casualty department for 12 years.