A HERO bus driver who went viral after helping an old man cross a busy road has been revealed.
50-year-old Jim Farry, from Knightswood in Glasgow, was caught on film stopping his double decker bus after seeing an elderly man struggling to cross the street.
The video, which has now been viewed over 35,000 times, shows him linking arms with the pensioner and assisting him to the pavement.
He was widely commended and Scots said “We need more of you in this country”.
And now he has spoken out about the incident, saying he hopes anyone in his position “would have done the same thing”.
Jim, who has worked for First Glasgow for 20 years, was driving the number 38 from Craigend Stores in Ruchazie towards Glasgow city centre when he noticed an elderly man in difficulty.
He said: “I was just driving along my local route when I saw an old man trying to get to a pedestrian crossing.
“He staggered onto the zigzag lines and he was stumbling slightly, he was finding it hard to walk.
“I didn’t want him getting hurt so I stopped the bus and hopped out. It had been raining and there was low sun glare which meant it would have been difficult for drivers to see him.
“I think he was in a bit of a panic – I was trying to have a wee conversation with him but he wasn’t saying much back.
“He was a total stranger, I don’t think he’s ever been on my bus before. But I’ll be keeping an eye out for him now.”
Jim’s actions, which were caught on camera by passenger Connor Stokes, also drew the attention of another traveller who wrote a letter of commendation to the First Bus Company.
Jim, who is married, says he had no idea a video had been taken until last week when a friend saw it on social media.
“I would like to think that anyone would have done the same thing,” he said.
“I think bus drivers get a bad rep – and there may be a handful that deserve it – but a lot of them do a top job.
“My wife saw the video and she wasn’t surprised, she said it was the kind of thing I would do.
“I’ve only ever had one other time when I had to stop, about fifteen years ago, when a passenger went into anaphylactic shock and I provided medical assistance.
“You just get on with it.”
Jim, who celebrated his 20-year anniversary with the company just last month, used to work as a chef before taking up part-time work driving buses.
His weekend job turned into a full-time career, and he says he plans to continue driving “as long as they’ll have me”.
A spokeswoman for First Glasgow said: “We are immensely proud of Jim for his swift action while on duty.
“Our drivers take great pride in looking after their customers every day but by stopping his bus to help out the elderly gentleman in question, he’s certainly gone above and beyond.
“Jim has been a driver with us for 20 years and is a great example to others of how simple actions like this can really make the difference to someone’s day.”
