We all know how infuriating the arcade claw machines can be, but one mum has revealed her attempt to win a cuddly toy for her daughter from a machine at a restaurant led to a sweet interaction with a young boy.
Sophie Crehan, 24, took her two children – George, five, and Florence, two – to the Lymewood Farm restaurant in Haydock, and had been using the claw machine next to the children’s play area to try and win a pink and purple teddy for her daughter.
After three failed attempts, Sophie gave up and let a young boy have a go instead – but she wasn’t expecting the kind gesture that followed.
Sophie, from St Helens, told the Liverpool Echo : "They have a little children's play area in there. I was on the grabbing machines and I was trying to win my little girl this pink and purple teddy that she really wanted.
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"I had a go three times but failed - I just couldn't do it. There was a little boy stood next to me watching me do it. I said, 'it's your turn now, you can have a go'.
"I came back to the table to eat my dinner and shortly after the little boy came over and said, 'I've just won it for your little girl'.
"I said, 'you don't need to do that' and he said, 'no no, I've won it'. I was nearly in tears it was such a nice thing to do."
The boy, who was around 10 years old, then presented Florence with the toy she had been asking for – much to the little girl’s delight.
After the boy returned to his table, Sophie decided to approach his family and tell them how “lovely” their son was.
She added: "I saw him go back to his table where he was sat. I took £2 out of my purse and went and give it to him and said 'thanks very much'.
"His parents were like, 'what's happened?' So I explained what had happened and said 'he's a lovely little boy'."
The good deed has made Florence so happy, and she has been taking the toy to bed with her ever since.
Sophie said: "My little girl is only two and she really wanted it. And if she didn't get something all hell would have broken loose.
"She even took it bed with her last night to cuddle it."
The mum posted about the interaction on a local St Helen’s Facebook group, and people can’t believe how selfless the little boy was.
One person commented: "How kind of this little boy to do this. So cute and caring of him, well done to the boy and I bet your little girl was so made up too.”
While another wrote: "What a beautiful gesture. You are a wonderful, loving boy, that is a very kind thing to do.”
And a third added: "What a lovely thing to do. Well done young man. A son to be proud of."
