PANTHERS star Matt Burton was a hero in his home town of Dubbo after his hat trick against Souths last weekend – but his stocks have risen even higher after a random act of kindness towards a local youngster who was cruelly attacked after the game.<\/p>\n
Charlie Sutton, just 13 and nursing a broken hand from a football injury, was smiling from ear to ear when Panthers centre Stephen Crichton handed him his boot after the game.<\/p>\n
But no sooner had young Charlie received the boot than a man in his mid 20s wearing a Souths jumper snatched it off him and ran off.<\/p>\n
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"We couldn't believe it – for a grown man to do that to a kid with his arm in plaster who was over the moon one second and shattered the next – it was disgusting," Charlie's aunt Amanda Short told WWOS.<\/p>\n
"A couple of onlookers even chased after the guy and one grabbed hold of him by the Souths jumper – he just wriggled out of it and kept running – hopefully Karma will get this p—k."<\/p>\n
Charlie went home downcast – but Amanda was determined to find a way to make things right.<\/p>\n
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She posted details of the incident on Facebook – and by the magic of social media they happened to be seen by Burton's mother Lisa.<\/p>\n
She told her son about the incident – and Charlie is now the proud owner of a pair of Burton's boots – autographed by the man himself.<\/p>\n
"Charlie couldn't believe it when the boots arrived – it restored his faith in life," Amanda said.<\/p>\n
"Matt even apologised for not being able to meet Charlie and present him with the boots himself because the team was already back in Sydney.<\/p>\n
"Matt Burton, you are a hero – not just for that fabulous hat trick but for showing such compassion to a little kid whose heart had been broken – it means the world to him."<\/p>\n
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