Ron Easton
Great BritainThe Daredevil Pensioner
Ron Easton, a 102-year-old former racing driver, lived up to his nickname "Speed Devil" when he found himself stranded on his roof for three days. The retired Devon native, who once raced at over 100 mph, climbed a ladder to fix his television antenna and became incapacitated.
A Precarious Perch
Easton spent those three days lying face down on his roof after becoming unwell during his "Alpine ascent." A repairman called by a concerned neighbor found the elderly man on a 2.5-3 meter ladder with a saw and a rake. His neighbor, Trish Bagley, had noticed milk and newspapers piling up outside his door and alerted the shop owner after her attempts to reach him failed.
A Fortunate Loss
Paramedic Nigel Toms found Easton lying face down on a rake in the gutter between the pitched roof of his bungalow and the flat roof of an extension. "He was in a very poor way, but access to him was quite simple," Toms recalled. "He responded to me, but it was obvious he was in a life-threatening situation. He was very, very fortunate to have been missed."
Rescue by Air
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responded to the call and rescued Easton using ladders and a stretcher from an air ambulance. The elderly man was airlifted to the hospital.
A Remarkable Recovery
Despite his ordeal, Easton is in a stable condition. "He's a tough old guy," said Trish Bagley. "He's always been out in the garden. I hope he makes a full recovery."
