Mum thanks 'hero' stranger who lay on the pavement to calm her autistic son

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kids A mum has praised the actions of a 'hero' stranger who stepped in to prevent her autistic son having an hour-long meltdown.

Natalie Fernando was walking along the seafront with her son Rudy when he became agitated at having to turn back, something the autistic five-year-old struggles to cope with.

With Rudy lying on the floor and other passersby tutting and frowning at what they perceived to be a child having a tantrum, a stranger stopped to speak to the pair to ask if all was OK.

When Natalie explained her son's condition and 'a host of other challenges making this part of the walk difficult', the man, who she later