Alan Barnes, the disabled man who suffered a broken collar bone after he was mugged outside his home and knocked to the ground as he put the bins out, has met the woman who started a fundraising campaign to help him which has ended up raising almost a quarter of a million pounds.
Mr Barnes described the moment he met beautician Katie Cutler as 'absolutely magic'.
The mother-of-one initially set out to raise £500 for Mr Barnes after she learned how the 67-year-old, who was born with growth problems and is now partially sighted, was mugged and left lying on his doorstep in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
But the fundraising page she set up just three days ago has been so successful she has raised more than 400 times her original target and Mr Barnes - who has been too scared to return home since the attack last week - now plans to use the money to buy a new house.
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Alan Barnes, who was mugged as he put the bins out outside his Gateshead home, has met Katie Cutler who set up a fundraising page to help him and has ended up raising more than £224,000 for the pensioner
He said he wanted to meet Miss Cutler ever since he found out about the campaign and after meeting the two had pledged to continue their friendship.
It was absolutely magic to see her,' he said.
'I did not know what to expect or if she would even want to meet me.
'It is very hard to take in. It really is great to have seen her and I am so grateful for the last few days
'I had told my sister Carol as soon as I found out what a generous thing she had done that I wanted to meet her, but I didn't know if she would want this or not.
'I don't often get compliments, but I have had quite a few lately, which is lovely. It shows that one person can make a huge difference to somebody's life.'
Donations to help the pensioner were being made at a rate of £20 a minute on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Barnes only found out that the page had been set up two days ago, and said he was amazed when people started to donate in droves from as far away as New Zealand and Canada.
Miss Cutler had a tearful meeting with Mr Barnes at his sister's home in North Tyneside, where he is staying
Mr Barnes said he had wanted to meet Miss Cutler ever since he found out about the fundraising she started
He has been staying with his sister in Benton, North Tyneside, since the attack because he is too scared to return to his home, and met Miss Cutler there today.
He added: 'I am totally overwhelmed and incredibly grateful to Katie for what she has done for me.
'The youth of today don't always get portrayed in a positive light, but I won't ever forget what this young woman has done for me.
'This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. The money will certainly not be wasted. I am not a flash person, so I won't be splashing out on an expensive holiday. I plan to put it to good use.
Donations to the fund have topped £224,000 in less than a week and look set to reach half a million
Mr Barnes and Miss Cutler had an emotional encounter as they talked about the attack on the pensioner
'Despite what happened to me, I always knew there were good people in the world, and this has confirmed it.'
The pair met for the first time today, with Miss Cutler giving the pensioner chocolates and a get well soon card following his ordeal.
'I hope that he can get a house with this money,' said Miss Cutler, of Gateshead.
'I am really overwhelmed to be here. It is lovely. It doesn't feel real to be honest. I knew I would get upset when I saw him, but it is happy tears.
Mr Barnes and Miss Cutler plan to maintain their friendship after an emotional first meeting today
Mr Barnes said the selfless act by Miss Cutler and other people who had donated had restored his faith
Miss Cutler said she found the experience emotional but said her tears were 'happy tears' at their meeting
'When I read that he was scared that he did not want to go back to his home, I knew I had to do something to help.
'I never thought it would take off in this way. I am thrilled that it has done.'
More than 17,000 people have so far donated to the fund, raising more than £224,000 for Mr Barnes.
Mr Barnes is well known in Low Fell and active in community, regularly going to church. He loves walking and is popular with young people in the area. He is also an excellent mathematician, able to quickly work out how many days a person has been alive after being given their birth date.
Mr Barnes said he would not forget what Miss Cutler had done for him and said it had changed his life
Miss Cutler, a mother of one, said she was hopeful Mr Barnes could buy a new house with the money raised
The pensioner had lived with disabilities since his birth after his mother contracted German measles while she was pregnant with him.
He was mugged as he put the bins out at about 6.30pm last Sunday.
He was knocked to the floor and left lying there after the thief demanded money, searched his pockets and found they were empty.
The pensioner's attacker then fled the scene.
Mr Barnes stumbled to the house next door so he could call his sister who took him to hospital. An Xray revealed he had a broken collarbone.
Mr Barnes has been unable to carry out his normal routine because his right-arm has been in a sling
Since the incident Mr Barnes has been unable to carry out his normal routine without supervision due to his right-arm being in a sling.
People have donated in their droves since the site was launched and wrote messages of encouragement to Mr Barnes.
Frankie Colston wrote: 'I hope you feel safe again soon Alan, know that there are thousands of good people around you & don't let one desperate idiot take your happiness away from you.'
Mr Barnes said he is too scared to return home after he was mugged and injured after he put out his rubbish
Mr Barnes has been staying with his sister and her family since the attack - including his niece Georgi Galloway and great niece Florence Purvis
Daniel Burley added: 'Well done Katie for you kind heart and to Alan there is a lot of good in this world, do not live in fear.'
Det Cons Chris Neil, of Gateshead CID, has urged anyone who knows who is responsible to get in touch.
'This was a cowardly assault on a vulnerable man who wasn't able to defend himself,' he said.
'His disability means he is partially sighted and quite short and it's disgraceful that someone would target him.
'The victim is quite a well known man in the area and this has left him extremely distressed.
'We're doing everything we can to trace the suspect and I would urge anyone who saw this attempted robbery or who has information about the person responsible to get in touch.'
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