The U.S. Postal Service has recognized a Westbrook letter carrier for going to the aid of a customer on his route who had fallen down and seriously injured herself.

Roy Willey of Chestnut Street was recently given a Postal Service Special Achievement Award by postal supervisors at the Rand Road Carrier Annex.

Willey said the incident happened on Feb. 16 when he was delivering mail on Pierce Street. He was just delivering mail to the home of Loretta Winkpaw, 88, when he noticed that Winkpaw had fallen down in her garage and was unable to get up. Willey said Winkpaw told him that she had a pacemaker and she thought the device was dislodged in the fall.

Going to the Winkpaw’s aid, Willey helped her up, got her into a chair and called for an ambulance. He said he waited at Winkpaw’s house for about a half hour until rescue arrived to take care of her. “I didn’t feel right leaving her,” he said.

Winkpaw was taken to Maine Medical Center, and Willey said she was there until about a month ago when she passed away.

Willey said his actions in coming to Winkpaw’s aid were typical of what any letter carrier would do. He said all letter carriers watch out for the people on their routes, especially those who are elderly or sick. “We all do that,” Willey said.

“Roy’s actions were instrumental in this customer’s receiving medical treatment as soon as possible,” said Customer Service Supervisor Jeremie Stevens. “I thank him for his heroic actions and express how much we appreciate his life-saving intervention that day.”

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