By BRIDGET SCOTT
A PAKENHAM bus became an improvised ambulance for a young girl last month.
The wheels on Martin Fletcher’s bus went round and round, all the way to Casey Hospital after a young girl suffered an appendicitis attack in Berwick.
The Pakenham resident from Cardinia Transit said he clicked into parent mode when a father whose daughter was suffering an appendicitis attack approached him about five weeks ago.
Mr Fletcher was sitting inside the Berwick Train Station car park when the man came up to him and asked when the 831 bus, which went through Casey hospital, would arrive.
Mr Fletcher said he had no idea, but to jump on and he would take her to hospital.
“He was going to call triple-zero and I said I would have her there before the ambulance even came,” Mr Fletcher said.
“It’s only about a three or four minutes’ drive there.”
Mr Fletcher said he recognised the man as a regular on his bus route.
“I cleared it all back at the depot and it was over within about six minutes,” he said.
“I dropped her off then went on to my next run.”
Mr Fletcher couldn’t believe how much media his mercy dash had attracted, and said he managed to keep it quiet for about five weeks after someone from work called the 3AW rumour file.
Word escaped after this and he said his friend went on to win the prize from the rumour file that morning.
Mr Fletcher said his main concern was that the girl was okay, and he would love to hear how she was doing.
“As long as she is alright,” he said.
“You don’t think, you just do it – you forget you’re a bus driver.”
Mr Fletcher, who has a grand-daughter the same age, said he felt so sorry for the young girl, who was doubled over by the time they got her on the bus.
“You can tell at that age when they’re bluffing,” he said.
“I just wish she got there quicker.”
