Paul Calderbank, 54, was living on the streets of Bolton when he found a young woman's handbag containing cash and an iPhone. He went out of his way to locate the owner and returned the bag with all its contents intact.
Touched by his kindness, the woman launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to help Paul transform his life. But despite his own hardships, Paul gave the funds to other rough sleepers he believed needed the money more.
Attack and life-changing injuries
Just a few months later, Paul was brutally attacked in the street outside Mecca Bingo in Bolton. The offender was never caught. Paul suffered a broken spine and later developed sepsis. A seven-hour surgery at Salford Royal Hospital saved his life but left him paralysed from the waist down.
Paul's niece, Emma Tregurtha, 32, said: "At the time he had found this bag, he went searching everywhere for this woman to find her. He wrote a letter that he carried with him in case the police stopped him, just to prove that he was going to give this bag back." She added: "He found her after a couple of days, gave her everything back that was in there. There was a phone, money and all sorts in there."
Selfless generosity
Emma continued: "Shortly after that, the lady set up a GoFundMe for him, but he gave money away to people in the streets that he thought needed it more - even though he was one of the people that needed it most. He was still on the streets when a guy attacked him outside Mecca Bingo."
Paul had once been a fitness fanatic, raising funds for charity and completing the Ironman triathlon challenge in Bolton in 2009. However, he struggled with addiction and fell into rough sleeping. Emma said: "He always wants to help people even when he's not got anything himself. He's always been like that even through his troubles. He has the kindest heart and good intentions always."
No justice
After the 2018 attack, Paul's attacker was never found, and the trauma has had a lasting impact. Emma said: "He felt let down - his whole life had changed and no justice. The person who got away with it could carry on his life as normal, and Paul was left with life-changing injuries. He has moments when he feels fine, and moments when he is really upset. I think things are just very difficult for him getting about."
Following his discharge from hospital, Paul was given a ground-floor property. He still uses a self-propelled wheelchair eight years on, but struggles to get around. Emma is raising money to buy him an electric wheelchair to give him independence. "He lives in Little Lever, but his family are all in Breightmet or Farnworth," she said. "He struggles to get around. My uncle takes him in the car to appointments and things like that, but for a bit of independence - to go to the shop or see family - I think he would benefit with an electric wheelchair. It must be so much of a strain pushing himself. From Little Lever to get to Farnworth there's a bit of a hill, and I think it's too much for him to come and see us. Just because he's disabled now doesn't mean he shouldn't be able to get about and do what he wants to do."
Emma has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the wheelchair. To find out more or donate, click here.
