Dermot O’Leary on verge of tears meeting heroic teenagers: ‘I feel like crying’-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Dermot O’Leary fought back tears after hearing how two teenage boys risked their lives to save a suicidal man.

On Thursday’s episode of This Morning, Dermot was hosting alongside Josie Gibson when the pair were introduced to ‘heroes’ Freddie Corbett, 15, and Harley Hollingworth, 16.

As Dermot explained, the boys leapt onto the railway tracks at Bolton-upon-Dearne station in South Yorkshire last weekend to save a man who appeared distressed.

Explaining what unfolded, Freddie said he and his mate were heading home on Saturday night when they saw a man in a sleeping bag at a train station.

‘It didn’t look like he was alright,’ he said.

After the noise of an approaching train was heard, the man got on the tracks.

This Morning host Dermot O’Leary was left on the verge of tears today (Picture: ITV)

‘I walked over to him and said, “what are you doing?”, he said “I’m killing myself tonight”,’ Freddie explained.

Without a second thought, Freddie jumped onto the tracks.

Although the man pushed past him and started walking towards the train, which was 45 seconds away, Freddie told him: ‘You’re not doing that mate.’

He then proceeded to move the man out of the way, with Harley then rushing over and helping to get him out of harm’s way before they pinned him down for about an hour until help came.

In awe of how the teenagers had acted in the face of danger, Dermot said it was ‘one thing to help someone but you physically had to restrain this guy’.

Recalling what he was thinking in that moment, Freddie said: ‘I was just like “I can’t let him die” – I’m putting myself at risk but it’s not just him and it’s not just me.

He was introduced to teenagers Freddie and Harley, who saved a man’s life over the weekend (Picture: ITV)

‘It’s the train driver, everyone on the train and everything. People can be traumatised, and it just ruins people’s lives, and everyone deserves a second chance at life.’

Freddie then said it was clear the man was in a ‘bad state’ and he told him not to do anything ‘daft’.

‘You don’t think, it’s natural instincts, I just had to help him,’ he added.

Also appearing on the programme with the boys was Freddie’s father Billy, who said he was ‘shocked’ and had a jolt of ‘instant fear’ when finding out what happened when a rail employee brought the boys home.

After not sleeping much that night, the next day, it started ‘sinking in what they’d done’ the next day, with Billy said he was incredibly proud of their actions, jokingly added he now felt bad asking his son to clean his room

Dermot, who has a three-year-old Kasper with wife Dee, began to well up as he praised their bravery.

The boys appeared on the show with Freddie’s dad Billy, who spoke about how proud he was of their actions (Picture: ITV)

‘You’ve got these two feelings to reconcile as a parent – one, I can believe you put your life at risk, this is your everything.

‘And then the second thing, those values and morals that you and your wife have instilled in them playing out.’

As his voice began to crack, he said to Billy: ‘You must be so proud. I feel like crying now, you must be so proud.’

After watching the segment, many This Morning viewers also praised the boys’ actions.

‘These lads are amazing they deserve a medal, well done lad,’ Barbara posted on X.

‘Absolutely brilliant. Well done lads,’ Andrea shared.

Dermot said he ‘felt like crying’ hearing what happened (Picture: ITV)

Many others said they should be ‘proud’ of themselves.

The Network Rail employee Gary Robinson initially posted about the incident on social media, sharing how the boys had saved the mans life.

‘Kids get a bad press but with humanity like those lads shown tonight we are in safe hands! These two lads are a credit to their parents, and I can’t speak highly enough about them.’

He then added: ‘If you see them buy them a J20 (not old enough for pints yet).’

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

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