Mr Proctor was lying in the New Brighton toilets calling for help when a man, believed to be in his 20s, walked in and stole his phone, which had fallen out of his pocket.
Since the theft was reported in The Star, Mr Proctor has received gifts, messages of support, phone calls, offers of new cellphones – and $1000 from an insurance company.
“I have just had AMI Insurance give me a $1000 in vouchers. I can spend it anywhere I want,” he said.
“I have got a birthday coming up and I might use it for that. If I am well enough I hope to have a really good party. I planned to have one on my 90th birthday but I was quite unwell so I never had it.
“I’ve got a lot of good friends who I would like to spend some time with,” he said yesterday.
On Saturday he is meeting with the New Brighton resident who went to his aid after the fall.
Mr Proctor’s daughter, Helen, said her father has been “truly blessed” with “much love and warmth” since the incident with the gifts and support.
“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are truly blessed,” she said.
“People have been amazing. He had the vouchers presented to him today, two days ago he was given a gift box from people in New Brighton and yesterday a woman gave him a box of chocolates and a whistle he can wear round his neck, in case he gets in trouble again,” she said.
The man who stole Mr Proctor’s cellphone has not yet been caught. A police spokesman said inquiries into the incident are ongoing and CCTV footage is being reviewed.
