A man joined British Army to 'repay his debt' to English family
A man joined British Army to "repay his debt" to English family

A Lance Corporal has told how he joined the British Army to "repay his debt" to the English family who saved him from a life of selling peanuts for £1 a day.

Gopal Vaakode was 12 when he met the Hanson family who were holidaying in Goa, where he was walking 10 miles a day selling peanuts to tourists.

Sometimes he'd sleep on the beach, and other nights in a tent on the side of the road, providing for his three younger siblings and his mum.

He asked tourists Carol Thomas, 55, and Colin Hanson, 64, a couple, and his sister in law Linda Hanson, 70, if they'd like to buy some peanuts.