Kind stranger leaves firefighters tickled pink

A group of firefighters in the middle of a 24-hour shift were left as speechless as ‘‘stunned mullets’’ after a complete stranger picked up their meal tab.

Four members of Silverdale’s volunteer fire brigade were having brunch at a cafe in Orewa, north Auckland, on Sunday when the random act of kindness occurred.

A woman known only as the ‘‘lady in pink’’ walked up to the register at Dear Coasties, paid their bill and popped the receipt on to their table before wishing them all ‘‘Happy New Year’’.

In a note addressed to the lady in pink on their Facebook page, the crew said they were gobsmacked.

They were ‘‘completely unaware of the kindness that was to be bestowed upon us by a total stranger’’, the post said.

‘‘You paid for four meals and four drinks, which well-sustained the team a couple of hours later at a vegetation fire in Dairy Flat.’’

The post suggested the firefighters’ reaction was perhaps a little delayed.

‘‘Suffice to say the four of us were absolute stunned mullets at the time and couldn’t get out the right words to say before you left! Sorry! So ... a very heartfelt thank you from Sunday’s Red Watch crew at the Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade. You are a beautiful human being.’’

More than 2000 people liked the post, with commenters commending the actions of the woman. ‘‘What a kind and generous person, and a lovely way to acknowledge the time and energy our brigade invests in the local community,’’ one commenter said.