UNSUNG HEROES


TRURO TAXI DRIVER PUNCHED WHILST TRYING TO SAVE HOMELESS MAN FROM GANG OF YOUTHS


A taxi driver has described how she was attacked whilst coming to the aid of a homeless man who was set upon by a group of youths. Suzie Brookes was herself punched during the incident in Truro on the evening of Sunday 17 December. Suzie, who lives in Truro and works for Ekspres Cars, said: “On Sunday afternoon at around 5.30pm I had a taxi booking from a parent to pick up her child, from Truro Bus Station to go to Newquay. “While doing this the girl was attacked by 15-year-olds and after getting the female in the car, the group of 15 or so teens attacked a homeless man called Danny.


“I called the police and did my best to protect Danny. The youths ran off but came back with more people. Two of the boys attacked Danny, I stood in front of him and one of the boys punched me in the side of my head.


“I ended up putting Danny in the taxi and took him up to Truro Police Station.” Mum-of-four Suzie, 30, said the youths also booted her taxi and pulled off a wiper as they tried to get to Danny and the teenage girl


as she drove off. She added: “I had to do something to protect a man that was just walking though town. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I drove away and he got serious injuries. “I’m still anxious and jumpy whilst working and I’ve had ringing in my ear and keep getting pains in my temple.” A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: “Police were called to reports of a fight between on Back Quay in Truro. Officers attended the scene where a man in his 30s was found to have minor hand and facial injuries. A woman who tried to help was also punched in the incident.”


HERO REDCAR CABBIE RACED VICTIM TO HOSPITAL AFTER SUBSTANCE LEFT MULTIPLE BURNS


A cabbie has come to the aid of a young woman who had an unknown substance thrown in her face. David Reidy has been called a hero after bouncers at Redcar’s Aruba nightclub hailed him down and asked if he would get the stricken woman to hospital as soon as possible as they didn’t know how long the ambulance was going to be. Knowing time was of the essence with injuries like this, David drove the terrified woman, who he says was in agony,


to James Cook


Hospital as fast as he could. Cleveland Police made an appeal for witnesses to the attack, which they say involved an unknown substance, to come forward.


PHTM JANUARY 2024


Red-Car Taxis, where David has worked for 4 months, hailed the driver a hero on social media for helping the woman. David said: “She was in a terrible state. She was in agony. I just got her in the car and drove as quickly as I could to hospital. I was really worried that she might have got some of the substance in her mouth.”


He said the victim told her another woman had thrown something in her face, he said it had hit the side of her mouth and down her chin and neck. David added: “It was terrible, it


looked like someone had set her on fire, she looked like a burns victim. I felt so sorry for her. She was just a young lass.” On its Facebook page Red-Car Taxis said: “Not all heroes wear capes but a well done to Reidy. It’s a shame this has happened to her, we all wish her a speedy recovery.” David Reidy replied on Facebook: “I wouldn’t call myself a hero, I just like to make sure people in our community are safe and get to where they need to be. I have done what any other of our Red-Car taxi drivers would have done. “We are ALL heroes in some sort of way as us drivers do like to go the extra mile. I’m just happy I was able to help when I could.”


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