Mum searches for heroes who helped son after accident
THE mother of a nine-year-old boy is searching for “hero” members of the community that helped her when her son was hit by a London bus.
Amal was struck by the 65 bus when walking across a zebra crossing.
His mother, Amal Mahgoub, was at home and did not know about the accident until an unknown woman arrived on her doorstep to tell her the bad news.
The woman was a passenger on board the bus and had run from the scene of the crash to notify Amal that her son was injured.
Amal now wants to find the “hero” who helped her after she identified Amar’s school, called the primary reception and found out where he lived.
Running 400 metres to the boy’s house, the stranger then broke the news to Amal and babysat her other children.
Members of the community rallied round mother and son while the boy was assessed for 90 minutes, lying in the middle of South Ealing Road, at 4pm on Thursday March 17.
Amal now wants to find those who helped her so she can thank them in person. Unfortunately, she does not know the name of the community heroes who supported her in a time of need.
Amal said: “This community (South Ealing and Brentford) acted like a family when my boy was run over. I don’t know how to appreciate and thank them enough. So many different people from different countries looked after me, holding me tight and making sure I was ok.
“My biggest mistake is not remembering their names and now I want to find them. One woman saw the school on my son’s t-shirt and then got my address and number from the primary. She ran all the way to my address to bring me to my son. She was really kind, nice and considerate.
“Then, so I could look after my injured son, she babysat my other kids. She was an Australian lady and I didn’t manage to catch her name, number or where she lives. I want to make contact with her because what she has done is beyond words.”
Amal described how the stranger pushed the pram with Amal’s one-yearold in it all the way to the scene.
She then returned to the house and looked after the children, playing with them until Amal’s partner arrived home. In a desperate attempt to get to Amar as quickly as she could, his mother forgot to put shoes, socks or even a coat on her young child.
A different person then gave the baby her coat in order for her to stay warm.
Dozens of people helped support the family in their time of need and Amal said she cannot thank them enough.
Luckily, Amar only suffered minor injuries – a bruised head and arm.
Amal continued: “You hear so many bad things that happen in the area. Accidents, robberies, stabbings. You never hear the good news. When this happened to me the community came together and supported us.
“I want to spread the good story so those who helped me can be thanked properly.
“If you keep talking about good things that happen in the community then we can all help each other. My aim by telling this story is to try and make people think from a positive angle.”
The accident was emotional for Amal who had to be pulled off her son so paramedics could tend to him.
She fell to the floor when she saw her son, who is in Year 5, lying on the floor with half a dozen emergency service vehicles around him. The ordeal lasted 90 minutes until Amar was taken to hospital via ambulance.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at 3.58pm on Thursday March 17 to reports of a collision involving a child and a bus at the junction of Ealing Road and Chestnut Avenue in Ealing. Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. A boy of primary school age was taken to hospital where his condition was assessed as not lifethreatening. The driver of the bus stopped at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Amal is desperate to find those who helped her in her time of need and if you are one of them she says to come forward so she can say a proper thank you.
Contact finn.byrne@reachplc.com if you are one of these.