Joe, who works for the Westbrook store, Warrington, sensed something wasn’t right when he didn’t get an answer after knocking at the house.

Knowing an elderly couple lived there, he had a ‘gut feeling’ so phoned the contact number of the delivery notes and spoke to the customer’s son Julian.

This led to a neighbour coming and opening the front door.

Joe said: “We opened the front door and found Thomas at the bottom of the stairs by the front door.

“He was conscious and responsive, but a bit shook up. I then called 999 for an ambulance. 

"I put a blanket on him to keep warm and kept checking on him and chatting to him to see if he needed anything while we waited for paramedic and carers to arrive, which was only about ten minutes.

"Thomas's wife, who I believe had Alzheimer's, wasn't able to get up, but I kept her in the loop and told her what was going on."

Thomas is recovering well, but he is in and out of hospital after being treated for cuts and bruises.

Joe added: "I'm just glad he's doing well. I hope that most of the people I know would have done the same thing. I just did what I thought was right."

Thomas’ daughter Amanda later contacted the store to thank Joe, saying he ‘deserved a medal’.

She said: "His help was invaluable that day. The world is a better place because of people like this.

“Also, a thank you to his manager who gave him the okay to stay with him."

And Thomas’ son Julian says his dad might not be alive today if it wasn’t for Joe.

Julian said: "Joe was fantastic and I believe he saved my dad's life.

“I am truly blown away by his concern. I live more than three hours away, so he kept updating me by phone. His main focus was the safeguarding of my parents.

"He stayed with my dad until a neighbour I had contacted could sit with my mum once the ambulance took my dad to hospital as my mum suffers with Alzheimer's.

"Joe's been asking for updates on my dad after the event for his own peace of mind, which shows what a remarkable individual he is. I really can't thank him enough."

The store's online trading manager Connor Naden, who has nominated Joe for an Asda service superstar award, said: "We are all so proud of Joe. He's a really nice guy, helpful and down to earth."