Kindness to a stranger

I want to give a big shout-out to the man who helped me last week.

I am a 68-year-old Wellingtonian who regularly walks the streets of the inner city, to maintain health and fitness after having had a brain tumour in 2019 and concussion in 2020, suffered when I was hit by a car. The tumour took away some of my sight so I now have low vision and walk with a white cane which also steadies my vertigo.

One day last week I overdid my walk and on the way home realised the vertigo had drained me of all energy. As I stood on the corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki St I was unsure how I was going to get home. I could barely take a step.

A man in an orange high-vis vest asked me, ‘‘Are you having trouble?’’ I said yes and gratefully grasped the arm he offered. He asked where I was going, and when I replied, home – Ghuznee St – he said, ‘‘Hang on to my arm and I’ll walk you home’’. He took me to my door. I am so very grateful to him.

I could say that he renewed my faith in human nature. But I have always had that and never lost it. He did, however, remind me that there are some very kind people around Wellington.

Pauline Zumbach, Wellington