Newspaper delivery man saves elderly woman in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The family of an 86-year-old Fresno woman is thankful a Fresno Bee newspaper carrier noticed something wasn't quite right last Friday. The woman fell at home last week but is now recovering at the hospital.

Ann Loeprich lives by herself. She is 86 but has remained independent. Last week she fell at home. Fortunately her Fresno Bee carrier Brian Sharp was looking out for her.

Brian Sharp has been delivering newspapers in this quiet Central Fresno neighborhood for 17 years, so he noticed right away when papers started to pile up at Ann Loeprich's home. Brian always hung the newspaper on her door. On Friday morning he contacted authorities because he was concerned.

"When I came up to her home and got out of the car I looked up at her porch and I noticed two papers were still hanging on her door," said Sharp.

Lt. Joe Gomez with the Fresno Police Department said Brian's quick thinking paid off. "Officers were able to see inside a window and force a door open and found the female. She was conscious. She was breathing. Dehydrated. Incoherent. They rushed her to the hospital."

Sharp finished his route and then returned to the home a few minutes later to find officers had kicked in the door. "As I approached the door I noticed that she moved so I said 'Oh good, she's alive.'"

Ann Loeprich was taken to Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) after she was found. Family members say she is doing better and CRMC said she is in fair condition.

Brian Sharp says he didn't hesitate to call authorities because he knew something was wrong. Lt. Gomez says it is a good reminder to check on the elderly whether they're family or not.