A South Croydon pensioner’s mobility scooter had to be rescued by a PCSO after it got stranded in a deceptively deep puddle.

Stephen Thurlow, 88, has praised the dedication of the PCSO who helped him when his scooter stalled in the puddle on an underpass in South Croydon.

Mr Thurlow was on his way to pick up some medicine for his wife Daphne, who was ill in bed, when he drove into the puddle and stopped on the underpass near Croydon Parish Church.

The disabled ex-serviceman managed to climb up the underpass where a passing member of the public flagged down the passing PCSO Sarah Michiels-Crosten, from the Town Centre Policing Team.

Mr Thurlow said: “The lovely young lady immediately took her shoes and socks off and rolled up her trousers and got into that puddle to get my scooter.

“She had no hesitation at all – just got straight into the water.

“I thought it was only a drop of water when I drove into it but it was a good two or three feet deep and my scooter stalled straight away.

“When the policewoman had gotten my scooter up from the underpass she called a support van to come and take me home.

“While I waited she also went to the chemist and got my wife’s medicine and she waited an hour with me until the van came to take me home.

“She was so lovely and so helpful, I cannot thank her enough for what she did.”

Mr Thurlow was named Charity Volunteer of the year in the 2005 Croydon Champions awards.

The ex-serviceman, who fought in Burma during the Second World War, supports the Royal British Legion and Comic Relief as well.

He said PCSO Michiels-Corsten should be nominated for an award this year.

PCSO Sarah Michiels-Crosten said: “When I got there I saw an elderly gentleman standing on two walking sticks soaked to almost the waist.

“The scooter had become stuck in a puddle which was actually quite deceptive. I rolled up my trousers and got the scooter out.

“As we waited for a recovery vehicle to pick up the scooter I went and got the medicine for the man’s wife and made sure he was ok. I also gave her a call to tell her he was ok.

“All I was really doing was my job but I am glad that he was so happy I could help him out.”

The German PCSO is nearing the end of her probation but hasn’t ruled out joining the police as a constable.

She said: “I like challenges so I think that I probably would join the Met as a PC at some point.”

• Do you know of someone who has acted selflessly? Nominate them for a Croydon Champions award.