A hero courier has been hailed for rescuing a stranded pensioner when her car broke down on a flooded Scots road in the dark.
The elderly woman, who couldn't walk without an aid, had been trying to get to Banchory in Aberdeenshire in horror conditions at around 5pm on Friday, November 18. At the time Pegasus Couriers' Dundee UPS Site Manager David Aitken was waiting in his van after being called to an unrelated breakdown near Laurencekirk - between Aberdeen and Dundee - when he saw headlights approach.
When they flickered out, David realised the car had stalled trying to cross the flooded road. Worried the motor would sink, he sprung into action and helped the woman to safety.
Touching video from the scene shows the old woman clutching David's arm as he leads her through the knee-deep flood water to safety. David said: "I was a bit concerned as while the water was shallow, it was fast flowing and if a car had to veer off the road, it would sink.
"She was an elderly woman who could not walk without a walking aid. When I arrived, she was on the phone with the police trying to give her location. As soon as she saw me, the driver’s door flung open, and she asked for help.
"I told her to grab my arm while I walked her to the vehicle that had come to collect me. I returned to the car to get her suitcase, walking sticks and laptop.”
David said the police had agreed to take her to a nearby farmhouse, which officers had arranged for her to stay at for the night. David said that during a brief chat with the lady, it appeared she had made several attempts to get to the town of Banchory – about 15 miles from Aberdeen- and had been trying since the morning to get there.
The identity of the woman remains unknown but David's employers have praised his heroic, quick-thinking actions.
Pegasus Couriers Director Martin Smith said: “Who knows what could have happened if he did not help her. We are grateful that everyone is safe and that he took it upon himself to help someone in need. As a family-owned business, we are part of the community and encourage community involvement and assistance. This selfless act is a testament to this.”
Aberdeenshire Council started its recovery procedure to support those affected and restore infrastructure damage this week.
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