Bus driver in Czech Republic saves the life of a bloodied senior citizen
Pavel Kaleja, a bus driver for the City of Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic, saved the life of a seriously injured woman through his professional approach and quick reactions. The hero of Ústí nad Labem, as people are now calling him, did not hesitate one second to help a fellow human being.
It was a day like any other when Kaleja was driving on line 15 between the Vaňov – Strážky stops as usual. It was his last trip of the day that weekend in the beginning of November, and he slowly approached the stop near the Habrovická School.
His routine drive turned into a drama in mere moments. He noticed something unusual lying in the road, initially believing it was an animal or objects, but once he got closer, he ascertained it was a bloodied senior citizen who had been seriously injured.
Kaleja did not hesitate and immediately provided first aid to the woman. It was just before 17:00.
“The lady was unable to get up on her own, so I lifted her from behind. As I did so, I noticed blood everywhere. She had it on her arm and mainly on her face. Her entire face was bloodied and swollen, different injuries were visible. She had been terribly beaten up,” Kaleja told news server Denik.cz.
Kaleja, who has been driving a city bus for seven years, immediately brought the woman into his vehicle and provided her the care she needed. “I treated her injuries, provided her some basic aid and called an ambulance. From time to time she lost consciousness, so I did my best to speak with her as much as possible so she would stay awake. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived and took over,” he told Denik.cz.
The senior citizen, who has blood pressure problems, had begun to feel ill, fell down while walking and by unfortunate accident “rolled” down the hill to the road in front of the bus stop. During her tumble she got several ugly blows to her face, which then bled.
Kaleja recognized the woman because she takes the bus almost daily. “The lady and I had seen each other before, she thanked me,” he modestly said.
He was also thanked by his employer, the Mass Transit Corporation of the City of Ústí nad Labem. Executive Director Simona Mohacsi expressed appreciation for his behavior and professional approach.
“Not only did he save a human life, he demonstrated the professionalism of a driver for municipal mass transit,” Mohacsi said. Kaleja said what he had done was a matter of course and said that being able to provide such aid is something everybody should master because we never know when we ourselves will be in need of such assistance.
