A HERO schoolboy raced to the aid of a 90-year-old man after he saw him fall at a beach as he passed on his bus ride home.

Jay Mackay, 11, immediately got off the bus and ran down to the beach to help the man, before raising the alarm, and remaining by his side until paramedics arrived to take him to hospital.

Amazingly, Jay then carried on his journey home without mentioning a word about his kind actions to his mum.

It was only when the granddaughter of the injured man contacted Jay’s school that he was identified as the hero of the incident.

Last Friday, Jay received a surprise of his own when he was presented with a Community Star award in front of fellow pupils at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School, Musselburgh.

Headteacher Sarah Ogden said she had been amazed when the elderly man’s family contacted her about Jay and his actions.

She said: “The granddaughter said to me she believed the boy who helped her grandad was called Jay and went to our school.

“She told me: ‘Who knows what might have happened to my grandad if he had not helped.’ “When I asked Jay about it he said it was him. We are so proud of him because he actually got off the bus that was taking him home to help this man without a second thought.” The accident happened in Prestonpans on Thursday, February 5, as Jay was heading to his home on Preston Crescent after school.

He saw the man, who has asked not to be identified, fall on the beach front and was so concerned for him he got off the bus and ran down to him.

The elderly man told Jay where he lived and Jay ran to the nearby home to inform his wife and make sure an ambulance was called.

Jay immediately returned to the man and stayed with him as they waited for paramedics.

The 90-year-old man spent two days in hospital and had to have two deep gashes on his head stapled, suffered several other cuts and a chipped wrist bone in the fall.

Jay’s proud mum, Elaine MacLachlan, said the first she knew about his actions were when the school contacted her.

Elaine, a care assistant, said: “He hadn’t said a word about it but I am so very proud of him. It is exactly the sort of thing Jay would do.” Jay not only received a Community Star award from Councillor Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council cabinet spokesperson for education and children services, but he also received free family passes for swimming centres from enjoyleisure general manager Bill Axon, who also presented Jay with a £50 gift card for Argos.

Bill said: “When we heard what Jay had done we wanted to reward him for his actions and when we told our vendors Excel Vending they were amazed and added in the gift card.” Jay received his awards at a special assembly at Pinkie St Peters last Friday, with his mum and younger brothers – Connor, five, and Lucas, six – and fellow pupils watching, along with his youngest brother Stefan, aged four.

He admitted he found the whole thing a bit of a shock.

Jay said: “I had no idea what was happening until Mrs Ogden starting reading out the email from the man’s family. I’m glad he is OK.” And the caring youngster revealed that, despite the Argos giftcard and swimming vouchers, there was one reward he really treasured.

He added: “The Community Star is my favourite of all the things I have been given today.

“It is very special.”