A STUDENT originally from Kent said she could not believe the kindness displayed by a good Samaritan who rescued passengers on a broken down bus, saying you’d never see anything like it ‘down south’.
Alisha Durand was on the bus home from Barnsley to Thurnscoe at about 3.15pm on Friday when she noticed the back of the bus was smoking.
“I noticed it because I was at the back of the bus, but the driver hadn't seen it, probably because the windows were too dirty,” said Alisha, 18, a student at the University of Leeds.
“It was coming through Great Houghton, and this guy on a motorbike was speeding up and slowing down behind us, then he came alongside, waving.
“He was trying to flag the driver down.”
Eventually the bus pulled over, and the man on the motorbike came to check everything was OK.
“There was a lot of smoke, so I think he just wanted to check we were all right,” said Alisha, who is training to be a mental health nurse.
“There were only four passengers left on the bus by this time, and as it happened we were all heading back to Thurnscoe.
“We were just waiting for the repair people to turn up, or another bus.
“The man went home on his motorbike, but he swapped it for his car and came back. I thought he was the repair man come to fix the bus when his car pulled up.
“Then he offered to take everyone on the bus home.
“I couldn’t believe it. You just don’t see things like that every day, especially down south where I come from.
“It was just so kind.”
In the meantime Alisha had already phoned her mum who was on her way to pick her up, so she politely declined the offer.
But the other three passengers all got into his car.
“He had to clear his car out first, he was moving everything from inside the car into his boot.
“There was a nice old lady who he let sit in the front, a guy maybe in his 20s, and another woman who all got in.
“It was amazing. He deserves to be thanked and recognised, but I don’t even know his name.
“His car was a black Ford Mondeo estate, I don’t know how old he was, but he had quite olive skin, he had white hair and a little white beard. He was in his leathers.”
Alisha got in touch with the Chronicle because she wanted to express her gratitude.
“Even though I didn't take a lift myself, it was such a kind offer and the other three people on the bus got home because of him, instead of waiting for another bus.
“I hope he sees this. Great guy.”
Are you the mystery good Samaritan? Or do you know who he is? email editorial@barnsley-chronicle.co.uk
