Jamie Redknapp was “emotional” and amazed during ITV’s DNA Journey on Wednesday night, as he made an astonishing discovery about one of his ancestors.
The former pro footballer was joined by pal and fellow sportsman Andrew Flintoff for the episode, with both of them making some unexpected discoveries.
Jamie headed to Yorkshire where he met coal miner and Yorkshireman Peter, who had an incredible story to tell him about one of his ancestors.
He revealed Jamie’s three times Great Grandfather Charles William Lawson worked in a coal mine in the 1900s, when he saved a friend’s life.
While working conditions were already dangerous in the mines at this time, a collapse in 1911 left one of his fellow workers pinned under a giant rock.
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Charles, related to Jamie on his mother Sandra’s side, bravely risked his own life to save that of William, his fellow worker.
Peter revealed how large boulders crashed down on Charles and William, but while Charles managed to move out of the way, his friend was trapped under rocks and debris from the collapse.
After 12 hours, William was saved – all thanks to Charles’ heroic efforts and him freeing him from the heavy rockery.
(Image: ITV)
His heroic actions even earned him a bravery award from the King himself at the time – something Peter could never recall happening with any other coal miner in history.
Peter went on to reveal that among the family tree of miners, Charles has forever been seen as a hero and he told Jamie: “That is something to be really proud of.”
Jamie was then handed the medal to see for himself, and the moment moved him as he confessed he was “getting emotional”.
He said: “I can’t wait for my kids to see this,” adding: “Wow, that’s incredibly brave.”
(Image: ITV)
Jamie added that his mother would be “proud” of what their ancestor did all those years ago, calling his story “pretty incredible”.
He said it was “the most amazing feeling” and that the story and the award were “incredibly special”, before appearing emotional.
That was until Andrew “killed the moment” by joking that the medal was Jamie’s first ever.
DNA Journey is available now on ITV Hub.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/jamie-redknapp-moved-story-hero-23672958