UNSUNG HEROES
STRANGER RESCUES PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FROM BURNING CAR IN LONDON
The daughter of a cab driver who was helped from a burning car has thanked a stranger for saving her father’s life. BBC News reports that Abdul Awal, 58, was driving his Mercedes on Bellegrove Road in Welling, south east London, when a man shopping nearby spotted flames and called the fire brigade.
Mr Awal, who has hearing issues, was initially reluctant to leave the car as he thought the stranger wanted a fight. “This is how humanity should aim to be,” daughter Iffath Nowrin said. “If more people were like this, the world would be a better place.” Mr Awal had been returning from a petrol station early on the afternoon of Wednesday 2 June, when his car start- ed to overheat. The man who helped, and who wishes to remain anonymous, was at a Nisa Local when he alerted the authorities to a fire under the bonnet of a car. Mr Awal continued driving the vehicle, which by now was on fire, so the stranger sprinted towards Mr Awal’s minicab, repeatedly knocked on his window and encouraged him to pull
CANNOCK CHASE PROPRIETOR LOOKS AFTER CABBIES DURING LOCKDOWN
Manzoor Shah is the proprietor of A2B and Brownhills Taxis, Cannock Chase. One of his hackney drivers contacted PHTM as they wanted to publicly thank him for looking after them during these challenging times. He told PHTM: “He didn’t charge any rent or commission to the owner drivers who worked in the first lock- down and ever since he has only put up the weekly rent to a low percentage. He has been so kind and supportive to all of us, even helping with our vehicle costs. Every driver that works for him sees him as a friend rather than a boss. PHTM applauds Mr Shah as being a great example of a caring operator who is maintaining old school princi- ples and looking after his drivers. It also makes a refreshing change to hear from loyal drivers who appreciate the firm they work for!
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Iffath Nowrin and her parents
The story also received positive com- ments on our Facebook page with comments including: • “Great for the owner to realise that the drivers have stuck with the firm through thick and thin.”
• “Refreshing to hear someone say nice things about others. Well done fella.”
• “Masha Allah he is a great person and his friend and partner Mr Riaz both have wonderful personality.”
over and leave the car somewhere safe. Eventually, the stranger grabbed Mr Awal’s arm to help move him away from the vehicle towards safety, before the fire brigade arrived to extinguish the fire. “You have to physically touch him to get his attention,” Mrs Nowrin told the BBC. “The whole world could be up in flames and he’d continue what he’s doing. The fact he went over and spoke to my dad who was so unresponsive - people are saying, ‘You’re so lucky this stranger came over to help you.’ “If I saw fire, I wouldn’t go towards it. I wish more people were like him - every- body else there was playing football or filming on their phones, compared to one guy who genuinely actually con- cerned about my dad’s health. “I am so, so grateful that there are peo- ple like this that exist.” The family are practising Muslims and believe the stranger may have been sent down by God as an angel to save Mr Awal, who ended up covered in soot. “It’s an absolute miracle he was untouched,” Ms Nowrin added. “It’s so unbelievable as it was really hot and smoky. “He’s literally a lifesaver - a random guy who came out for a random person and saved him. I am so, so grateful.”
JULY 2021
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