Sheffield grandad collapses in street but community response is so heart-warming
The daughter of a Sheffield grandad who collapsed while waiting for a bus has praised the “hero” members of the S12 community who stepped in to help him.
Karen Thomas, from Hackenthorpe , explained how on Sunday (September 29) her dad, 81-year-old Ken Thomas, took a bus from his home in Eckington to go for breakfast at Mary’s Pantry, on Birley Moor Road in the Frencheville area of the city.
After finishing his breakfast, Ken was faced with a long wait for the next bus home so decided to walk to a bus stop further away to kill some time, Karen explained. He had walked all the way to the bus stop outside Kaz’s Cafe on Mansfield Road, when the retired French teacher collapsed while waiting for the bus.
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Luckily for Ken, a “mystery man with a big heart” stopped his car at the scene to help. Through the power of Facebook, Karen, 48, was able to track down Sheffield-based personal trainer, Chris Stratford, who is the “hero” that stepped in.
“I was driving home from work to the house my partner and I had just bought when I saw what looked like a man laid next to the bus stop on the main road,” Chris explained. “As I got close, I could see there was a man [Ken] who looked like he had fallen.
“I quickly stopped my car and ran out to help him. Ken said he had been there for a few minutes after collapsing. He kept apologising for being on the floor but I explained to him that he’d got me out of assembling furniture so I didn’t mind staying with him.”
Karen says that until she shared a post on social media thanking those who helped her dad, she didn’t realise just how many people had stepped in to help. Through the comments she was not only put in touch with Chris, but also discovered that an off-duty nurse had stopped at the scene, as well as a local cafe owner and a couple who had been at breakfast with Ken.
Chris continued: “A woman named Paula and her husband who I know from the gym also came out to help and called an ambulance. We sat with Ken and covered him with jackets from the car, as well as Paula’s coat.”
Off duty nurse Lynne Thomas, also stopped to help when she saw what was happening. Commenting on the Facebook post, she wrote: “I'm the nurse. I couldn't in good conscience not stop. Really though, the guys there had already done all the hard work and all of the right things so hats off to them! It's great to see that even without formal training people are willing and able to do what needs to be done you're all incredible! The world needs more people like you guys.”
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Luckily Ruth and Mick, who had been in Mary’s Pantry for breakfast with Ken that morning, also saw the commotion and recognised him. Straight away, Ruth used Ken’s phone to call Ken’s daughter, Karen, to let her know what was happening.
Karen said: “Just knowing that those people were there with him made it so much easier for me because I couldn’t get there to be with him myself. It was really reassuring to know that he wasn’t sitting waiting for the ambulance on his own. It made me panic a lot less.”
Chris added: “Ken was very thankful to all of us for stopping and kept offering us his chocolate muffins. It made me so proud to be from round here with how many people came to help and had genuine concern for Ken. They all stopped what they were doing on a Sunday to stay with him while we waited for the ambulance.”
Ken was taken to Northern General Hospital, where he is still currently receiving inpatient treatment. “He’s still very dizzy and weak, but the doctors are hoping that it’s just a virus that really took it out of him,” Karen said.
And Ken already has big plans when he gets out of hospita.l Karen explained that she will be taking him for a coffee with his “hero” Chris once he has been discharged: “He can’t wait to see Chris when he gets out and thank him,” Karen explained. “Chris suggested it - he said that when dad’s better he would love to take him for a coffee, and even suggested that I take him in to see him at Station Gym where he works.”
Along with connecting her with the people who helped her dad, Karen’s post was met with an outpouring of love and support from the both the S12 and wider Sheffield community, receiving over 700 reactions.
“The support on the post has been overwhelming,” Karen said. “My dad was crying his eyes out when I told him about all of the comments - he was really overwhelmed with the amount of support and well wishes. It really warmed his heart and made him very emotional. It really feels like the whole community came together ”
In the comments of Karen’s post, which was shared in the S12 Community Facebook group, people praised the local heroes who stopped at the scene. Rukia Muhsin commented: “Sending healing, well wishes to your Dad and a thank you to the wonderful Samaritans.”
Lynne Emerson wrote: “Glad your dad doing OK there's some lovely people out there,” and Sharon Wilson said: “Hope your dad is doing ok, and well done to all who stopped.”
Fiona Nightjar Maddock commented: “Hope your Dad is ok. There’s still some lovely people that make up for all the bad ones,” and Anne Slinn added: “Hope your Dad is ok. Well done to the people that helped him xx.”
Chloe Varley wrote: “There is such some amazing people out there I hope your dad is alright speedy recovery.”