A BUS driver from Minety is trying to track down a good Samaritan who might have saved the life of one of his passengers.

Richard Thompson, a driver for Community Connexions, a community bus charity, had just picked up a client for a hospital trip on January 23, when a pothole damaged his wheel, forcing him to pull over.

Despite his best efforts, Richard could not call a taxi or Green Flag driver out to the bus for at least an hour, which sent alarm bells ringing, as the elderly passenger was using an oxygen machine which only had two hours of oxygen left.

“We thought what are we going to do,” said Richard.

“We rang Tetbury hospital, where he was due for an appointment, and they said the nearest people they had were in Gloucester.

“There were no taxis and Green Flag said they’d be an hour.

“He was panicking as he only had two hours of oxygen.”

Richard tried to replace the wheel with the spare, but struggled to unbolt it from the bus.

Fortunately a young farmer driving a tractor spotted the incident as he was passing by and stopped to help.

The farmer positioned his tractor to protect the bus and the patient, and set to work replacing the wheel.

Once he had finished, the mystery farmer got up to leave, refusing to accept payment from Richard for his selflessness.

“Myself and a very grateful patient tried to compensate him for his trouble, which he adamantly refused to accept,” said Richard.

“Without his help, we could have potentially been in very difficult position.

“I’ve never had a situation like that before.”

Richard is trying to track down the young farmer who help him and his passenger on Monday, January 23.

“I didn’t even shake his hand,” said Richard.

“I would like to record my thanks, and that of my patient, for his unselfish action which saved the day.”

If anyone knows the farmer involved, they are urged to email Richard on jetsway4@hotmail.co.uk