A 13-year-old boy who called help for a stranger collapsed in a Hitchin park, staying at his side until paramedics came, has been hailed as a credit to the town.

Bailey Taylor, who goes to The Priory School, told the Comet he was on his way to meet a friend on Saturday when he found the older man lying in Bancroft Recreation Ground.

“I went over and checked he was conscious, which he was,” Bailey said.

“His speech was slurred. I called 111, because I didn’t know what to do. The man had medication in his bag, so I read out what it was.

“The operator asked me to ask him to sit up, and as he sat up he was just groaning in pain and I couldn’t understand what he was saying. Luckily his details were on the medication bag.

“I read all that out and gave them the details and made sure the person didn’t go anywhere. I was just conscious about how he was doing.”

Bailey said he saw the man later that day, and was glad to see he was doing well.

Since a post on Facebook about his actions at the weekend, Bailey has been widely saluted as a great example of civic responsibility and as a credit to teenagers and Hitchin generally.

Bailey’s mum Michelle Stevens said she was “so proud” of her son. Priory School head Geraint Edwards also expressed great pride, and said Bailey would be getting a headteacher’s commendation on his return to school after the summer holidays.

The ambulance service told the Comet that an ambulance was sent to Bancroft Recreation Ground shortly before 3pm on Saturday and that paramedics stayed at the scene for about an hour. The man did not need hospital treatment.

Dozens of social media users have congratulated Bailey in the ‘We Love Hitchin’ Facebook group, including one who wrote: “He should be rewarded for his quick response. His parents must be so proud.”

Several others called for him to get some sort of civic recognition for his actions.

Speaking to the Comet, modest Bailey insisted he was not a hero.

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m a hero,” he said.

“Around Hitchin, many teenagers have a reputation that gives Hitchin a bad impression.

“For me to shine some light on Hitchin, that helps. It’s just about looking out for each other.”