How Swindon Town fan Elliot, 6, helped save his big brother's life

Six-year-old Elliot Couchman won an Adver competition to be one of the Robins team mascots at the Boxing Day 4-0 trouncing of Cambridge United.

The Town fan said it had felt exciting to walk out onto the County Ground turf with defender Mathieu Baudry.

Richie Wellens, first team manager, said: “We would all probably do what he has done for his brother, but to do it at such a young age is so brave.”

Elliot’s family has had a tough couple of years. Two years ago, when Elliot was four, older Brother Ben was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Just 13 days ago Elliot was put under general anaesthetic while surgeons extracted bone marrow from his back. The donation could save Ben’s life.

Asked why he had gone under the knife, Elliot said: “I want to save Ben’s life. I didn’t want him to go away.”

The boys’ mum, Sam, compared the operation to getting punched 15 times in the back.

“It will be six weeks for the bone marrow to properly recover but he’s bounced back really well,” she told the Adver.

“I know if it was me I would definitely be complaining about the pain, but he isn’t.”

Elliot won the Adver’s competition, run in partnership with minicab firm V Cars, to take to the pitch yesterday as one of the Swindon Town mascots.

The youngster and dad Toby got a personal tour of the County Ground and met first team manager Richie Wellens and his favourite players before the game.

Elliot said: “It was exciting. I liked kicking the ball around.”

Toby, 44, added: “This is only the second game he’s ever been to. The first was the Mansfield match a few weeks ago. He’s had an awesome day. It’s nice for something to be about him for a change.”

Ben is currently in isolation at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Usually, Elliot has to speak to Ben from behind a glass window – but he was allowed into his brother's hospital room on Christmas Day.

Mum Sam told the Adver: “Elliot comes to the majority of hospital appointments with us and has been extremely good tempered about it all.

“When Ben relapsed in September, Elliot was very upset about it but very kind to his brother.

“When I told Elliot he was a bone marrow match for Ben he exclaimed ‘yay, I can save him’, which broke my heart.”

Richie Wellens, who joined Swindon Town as first team manager in November 2018, said: “I met the young lad before the game, he had a big smile on his face – I met all the mascots.

“I asked if anyone had a question, and he looked at me and said, ‘Happy Christmas’.

“That isn’t a question – but the smile on his face will stick with me. We would all probably do what he has done for his brother, but to do it at such a young age is so brave.

“He told me that he enjoyed his Christmas, and I hope he enjoyed his day at Swindon Town.”

All pictures: DAVE EVANS