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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Laura Parnaby (PA) & Steven Smith

British number five Jodie Burrage gives ballboy Percy Pig sweets after he faints at Wimbledon

British number five Jodie Burrage briefly stopped play to offer a ball boy some Percy Pig sweets after he appeared faint. Spectators said the 23-year-old Wimbledon wildcard was "really sweet" as she attempted to revive the youngster when he was seen "wilting" at the side of the court.

Burrage had been in the middle of her match against Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko and both players paused for about 10 minutes as the boy was led to a chair by a linesman, and later helped off court. Friends and Glasgow locals Val Shand, 61, a retired lawyer, and tennis coach Laura Middleton, 60, were courtside when it happened.

Ms Shand told the PA news agency: "He was either too hot or he hadn't had enough to eat, he just looked like he needed sugar or water. He wobbled.

"Jodie Burrage was really sweet, she went and got him water and sweets. She gave him a blue Gatorade and some sort of energy bar.

"She was really good, really nice to him. He sat for a while looking like he was about to pass out.

"If I was his mum I would have been over there, but fortunately for him I wasn't. I felt for him."

Ms Middleton added: "He was wilting and his glasses were off as well. The game just stopped. It was at the end of a point and he sort of just crumbled.

"Tsurenko handed over some sweets or gummies for him to eat as well. It seemed a little while before somebody came to get him. It felt like longer because we were distressed for him, because it didn't look like he was going to get back on his feet without help."

Steve Hanlon, 35, a finance specialist from south London who was also watching the game, said he saw audience members hand Burrage the Percy Pig sweets for the boy.

He told PA: "As far as I could tell, he looked like he started to feel a bit faint, sat down, head slumped a bit. He just looked exhausted but it had only been one game back in, so I'm not sure.

"Jodie went and got him a drink and some sweets from the crowd. I think someone from the crowd handed it over. I think it was Percy Pigs - which solve every problem, right? Hopefully he's OK."

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