A plea has gone out to find a Good Samaritan who comforted and elderly man after he fell in West Malling.

In a random act of kindness, the young man took off his coat and put it round the elderly man who was being tended to by ambulance staff after he slipped on ice.

Paul Barratt, head of South East Coast Ambulance Service’s head of non-emergency services, wrote to the Kent Messenger praising the young man.

Mr Barratt wrote: "I wanted to bring to your attention an outstanding act of human kindness.

"While responding to emergency calls for the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust on Tuesday, December 22, I attended an elderly gentleman who had fallen in West Malling High Street.

"It was obviously an extremely cold day and various people from neighbouring houses and the nearby Tesco store assisted me with coats and blankets to keep the patient warm before an ambulance and my colleagues to arrived to assist in moving the gentleman.

"The unsung hero that I would like to bring to your attention was a young man of slim build, approximately 6ft 2ins, possibly in his late teens or early twenties.

"Without thought for his own care he took off his coat and gave it to me to put over this gentleman. He was only dressed himself in light clothing and he left me with his coat while he went to have his hair cut.

"This young man had no idea who the patient was or in fact whether he would ever see his coat again and went on his way.

"I was very sorry that I did not get this remarkable young man’s name but was staggered by his act of generosity for a complete stranger. I hope you will be able to carry this letter in the event that this good Samaritan gets to read it and receives the praise that he duly deserves."

• If you know who the Good Samaritan was, call us on 01622 695666 or email messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk