What is the most memorable moment you shared with a stranger who you never saw again?

[kgfreo]

In my line of work I came across a lot of people during the worst times of their lives but this happened when I was off duty.

I was driving to my parents house when I saw an older lady laying on the footpath with blood pouring down her face. There was a huge cut on her forehead and her brow ridge was swelling up. I pulled my car across the road and asked her if I could help her or if I could call anyone for her. She refused to let me bring her to a doctor and couldn’t remember any phone numbers so I brought her to a nearby chemist and the shop assistants started to clean her up and got her tea. I felt like a spare part and left quietly.

A few months later I had to go back to the same chemist and when I approached the counter, the assistant said “It’s you!! You’re the girl who helped a woman who had fallen on the road! We’ve been looking and talking about you for months”.
She went on to explain that the lady had been searching for me for months and was referring to me as an Angel that came out of nowhere and disappeared as quick as I had appeared. I asked the shop assistant not to mention that she’d met me. I’m not that significant of a person and I think it’s a nicer thought for that lady to hold on to instead of meeting me.

There are plenty more stories but that means more as I was not in a uniform just “doing my job”.

I'm in tears reading these , it makes you realise that lovely people are everywhere

I froze stepping onto an escalator in the US( real phobia) a man built like a brick shithouse took my hand in the most gentle way and helped me on
Probably just annoyed at waiting behind me but it really helped

Saw a young woman plough her car into a tree. Saw smoke coming from the bonnet and pulled my car over. Dragged her out. She was on her way to Leeds Festival and more concerned her alcohol that was in the footwell. I rang her dm off her phone. She arrived quite soon - she didn't even speak to me! Not even a thank you!

The student midwife who was amazing during ds birth 9 years ago.

I was in a hospital waiting room (for something non urgent) and an elderly lady was sitting next to me, there were huge delays and I was reading Jane Eyre and we got talking about literature. She asked me where I studied and I was embarrassed to say ‘I didn’t’ and she said ‘well, you ought to’. I walked out and saw an advertisement on a bus for a local university. I enrolled that night on some prep course and over the last decade completed a BA, MA and some research and it literally changed my life in so many ways, I was in such a rut that day. Eileen, if you ever read this and remember - thank you.

I hope I have helped someone. I was walking home from work and saw a woman crying on a step. She was well dressed, presented etc and I don’t know what it was but I walked past but just had to go back. Turns out she had come to the UK with the promise of a job and room which hadn’t materialised and despite being pretty much homeless was having job interviews, but couldn’t get anything because she couldn’t shower etc. I asked how I could help and she asked if I could buy her a single tube ticket to get her to where there was a charity that could help send her home. It was a Friday night and they wouldn’t be open until Monday but she was quite far away in central London where she’d been sent to try and get a bed for the night. It was raining and horrible. I didn’t have much myself then, but instead of a single I bought her a weekend travel card so at least she could keep in the warm on the tube and buses. I often wonder what happened to her. I hope she is happy.

I was sitting in a cafe one day on my own. An elderly gentleman kept looking over at me and smiling. After a while his younger carer came over to me and said that the gentleman had dementia but believed I was his wife (who had died many years ago) - before they had married. She asked if I would just say hello. I took my tea and sat with him and chatted for half an hour, letting him enjoy believing I was his wife.

My own father has recently lost his lengthy battle with dementia and I often think of the gentleman and hope I gave him a chance to relive some very obviously happy memories.

I had a pretty bad allergic reaction on a long haul flight. A doctor who happened to be going on holiday looked after me for the rest of the flight, even standing up next to me when the plane landed to help with my blood pressure. I got rushed to hospital as soon as we landed and in the chaos I never saw her again.

This has brought tears to my eyes ❤️

I was very, very close to my DGP's. When my DGM passed away, I went to view her body and spent about an hour crying and talking to her. The lady in the funeral home knocked on the door and asked if I would like a cup of tea and brought me some tissues; she didn't rush me and just left me to say my goodbyes.

When my DGF passed away, the same funeral home would contact me or my mum/uncle and phrase things like 'Dad's with us now' or 'Grandad's ready whenever you would like to come down and see him' rather than saying things like his body was ready. I know it's their job, but these little things, at a heartbreaking time, really made things a little easier

@StColumbofNavron wasn't Addenbrookes hospital or another Norfolk way was it?

On holiday to Cornwall with DH and DS. Must have been 10 years ago now. We'd parked by a harbour and came back to the car to find a woman sat on the harbour wall in floods of tears.

I sat with her and hugged her, she told me she'd just found out her DH had been cheating on her with her best friend. She was understandably devastated. She'd been caring for his dad who had dementia too. I waited with her until a friend arrived. I often wonder how life turned out for her.

Not a big deal, or life saving, but I just can't forget this moment.

Covid lockdowns, around April 2020, we couldn't drive to exercise, it had to be local. I'd barely seen anyone except my OH, as it was the height of pandemic paranoia. I cycled out to a lake that's usually very secluded in a semi rural area. An old lady was standing on the opposite bank, alone, looking at the water. I wish I could have talked to her, instead we locked eyes and both gave huge smiles and waved at each other simultaneously. She went her way, I went mine.

Twenty years ago I was in Chester city centre. A black cab went past, with no driver. It was going down a hill towards pedestrians, speeding up. I ran to it, jumped in the passenger seat and yanked on the handbrake. A few seconds later and it would've been going too fast to stop. The driver came running after it, and got in the driver's seat. I said something inane like 'Nearly lost it!' to him, then got out and carried on my way. I often wonder if he remembers the event.

These are amazing. And really inspire you to want to pass kindness on. This is my favourite thread.

I was in a club and a random bloke was pestering me to dance, have a drink, snog, go outside. He wouldn't take no for an answer, even when I said I had a boyfriend (true). I was getting upset & trying to leave. A guy came over, gave me a big hug & said something like 'There you are! I've been looking for you. Come & get your drink'. Other guy went away.

Knight in shining armour was with his boyfriend and had spotted me being harassed. They walked me to a taxi to make sure I was ok. I can't even remember if I asked their names.

We were in Asda just after ds2 was born, I'm not sure why we had all gone but dh had him in a sling and ds1 was in the trolley seat, both were crying and I was still struggling a bit after stitches. An older woman put her hand on my arm and said 'it will get easier I promise' and walked away. It was said with such kindness, I've never forgotten her and it was 17years ago!

I was involved in quite a serious car accident when I was early 20s. My car rolled but landed back on its wheels, dented roof and shattered glass everywhere.
I was in complete shock and remember a lady talking to me and me telling her I was fine and needed to get going. She was lovely, she realised the state I was in and unclipped my seatbelt, took my hands and guided me out of the car, sat with me, spoke to DH (then bf) because I couldn't get the words out and stayed holding my hand until he arrived then she left without me noticing.

Also, when I was a teen I had an abusive boyfriend - he was the stereotypical lovely public persona, controlling arse in private. I'd finally managed to dump him and it tipped him over the edge - he lost his temper in public when we bumped into each other in a shop. He grabbed my top, shoved me into a wall and started shaking me around. Was about to hit me when a man shouted at him - it seemed to remind him where he was and he ran away.
The man who shouted worked in the shop and was around my dads age. He took me into the staff room, made me tea and was so nice the whole story tumbled out of me. I will never forget him telling me not to be ashamed, to tell my family because they would definitely want to help and to be proud because not all women are able to get away from men like my ex. He seemed so sure I could handle things he gave me confidence.

I’m an ex Holiday Rep. Despite the view that’s it’s all one big party - it wasn’t. The worst incident I recall was in Corfu (late 80s), two young guests of mine had hired mopeds. The worst happened. One was killed outright, the other very badly injured as they explored the island. No helmets, no shirts on. It was awful.

Their parents flew out 2 days later and I was the one to meet them at CFU airport to accompany them to the hospital where our Manager would then take over supporting them and sorting the ‘arrangements’. I’m stood there in my uniform, holding a sign up with their names on. The flight landed, full of families, excitedly looking forward to their fortnight in the sun, plus groups of lads and girls on a mates holiday.

I knew who they were before they approached me, their bodies rigid with grief, worry and exhaustion. I probably spent no more than 15 mins with them, just needed to pop them in a taxi to the hospital and handover some keys to apartments that had been arranged.

I’ll never forget the way they looked at me, silently begging me to say it was all a mistake, it wasn’t their boys. I shook their hands, actually I hugged both Mums.

I still know their names, the parents and the boys. The surviving lad would be 53 this year.

Oh god, no, that’s just creepy

Years ago as a student, I did a nightshift placement with a paramedic. We had taken a drunk guy with a head injury to A and E. We were parked outside the hospital while the paramedic wrote up her notes, when a man banged on the window and shouted "help! My wife is in labour in the car!"

Midly irritated, the paramedic directed him to the midwifery unit a 2 minute drive round the corner. However, it soon transpired that it was too late even for that, as the woman was actively pushing! She ran and got her a wheelchair and put it behind her but she shouted "I can't sit down! THE HEAD IS OUT!!!"

I ran into A and E and they put an emergency call out, by the time I'd gone out the woman was standing with naked from the waist down, legs open while the paramedic crouched underneath her holding a newborn baby, with the mum shouting "IT'S A GIRL!!!!"

Will never forget that. I never saw that paramedic or the woman again, her child will be a teenager now. The paramedic stayed so calm and while clearly taken aback and shocked, acted so professionally. Amazing to see.

My grandad died unexpectedly when I was travelling in my early 20's. I was on one of the islands in Thailand and got the news at about 9pm. Devastated I ran sobbing to a travel agent (who I'd booked a trip to another island with earlier than day) and told her I needed to get back to the UK immediately. She had me on a flight at 6am the next day.

I'll never forget her

I have a mental illness and relapsed horribly on a holiday abroad. I was trying to hide my desperation, trembling and tears from my DC so climbed into the pool with a group of strangers doing aqua aerobics. Feeling different sensations help to ground me. The group of 6 men and women didn't know each other and spoke little to no English. As if one, they circled me and just silently held me and rubbed my back! It was honestly beautiful! No words, just raw comfort!

When I moved abroad at 21. Sat on the plane crying my eyes out having just said goodbye to my family and the man next to me asked if I was ok. Told him it was actually a happy time I was just sad about leaving my family. He called the cabin crew over. Ordered a bottle of champagne and poured us both a drink to toast my new adventure. Spent the rest of the flight telling me about when he had moved abroad. When we got off of the plane we went through to arrivals, he gave me a massive hugged whispered you'll do just fine in my ear and walked away. Without him I probably would have been on the first plane home.

I also have another one! Should have posted at the same time 🤦🏽‍♀️

When my DD1 was born, she was very unwell and rushed to another hospital for L3 NICU care. Before she was moved (and eventually me) her consultant told me to say goodbye to her as they weren't sure she was going to make it.

As I was waiting to be transferred to the same hospital as my daughter, a midwife came into my room and helped me harvest colostrum (she milked me for an hour 😂) and talked to me about the most normal and irrelevant things. During the worst and most traumatic time of my life, it was truly what I needed. I think about her quite often.

Oooh now you've got me thinking. I took it as "in another life we might have got know one another" (he was good looking and maybe I hoped!) but maybe it was that he thought he knew me in another life!
The other stories in here make mine pale into insignificance though - thanks for the thread OP 🙂