‘What’s a nice thing a stranger has done for you that you’ve never forgotten?’ – 21 incredibly heartwarming tales about unsung heroes

11.

‘I was running down the hill from my university to the station, with a massive suitcase full of Christmas presents to bring home for people. I’m short, female-presenting, and not particularly fit.

‘A tall male student passed me, wrestled with himself, rushed over and swapped suitcases. We made it to the train together.’
–Pippin4242

12.

‘Going back 20 years, I was a 16 year old apprentice electrician working on a building site, we used to get paid cash every Friday morning, I lost my envelope with my weeks wages in (£150) when we went for breakfast. I remember spending the whole day miserable, the guy I was working with teasing me about it.

‘Then at the end of the day, the site manager, a lovely Irish man in his late 60s came over and handed me an envelope, he’d gone round everyone on site and done a collection for me, I ended up with more money than I’d lost. I’ll never forget that man and that kind gesture.’
–louie_futon

13.

‘This is a recent one, but I got a flat tyre about 10pm, I have no idea what to do in situations like this so I pulled over, put my triangle out and called the AA. I stayed in the car because it was a horrible rainy night. An Uber driver pulled over and asked if we needed some help. I explained the situation and he said he’d help us change the tyre. Long story short, the spare tyre in my boot was stuck and would not come out.

‘The Uber driver googled what tyre we would need to see if his spare was compatible (unfortunately it wasn’t) and then got us to take his number and said if we wanted he could bring us some drinks. Luckily the AA turned up not too long after that but it was just such a nice thing for the Uber driver to do.’
–ellejaypea

14.

‘I had severe postnatal depression and felt like I was the worst mum ever, and failing at being a parent. I was out one day with my very young baby in the pram, and my three-year-old walking alongside, when she fell over and cut her knee. I picked her up and carried her to a nearby bench, dried her tears and put a plaster on her knee.

‘There was an older lady sat on the bench too who’d been watching me, and told me what a lovely mum I was. We had a chat about parenting and she really lifted me up that day. It was such a small thing but her words made me feel like I wasn’t useless. I’m still grateful to her 15 years on.’
–NoddysBell

15.

‘Paid for my chocolate digestives and Ribena during Covid to thank me for working in healthcare.’
–Babycatcher21

16.

‘Out on my own for the first time with my newborn, just in Sainsbury’s. Had a basket full of shopping, still more stuff to get and the big pram. My daughter just wouldn’t settle and was crying really loudly, I stupidly felt embarrassed and was on the verge of tears and a security guard came over and offered to do my whole shop for me so I could hold the baby and settle her.

‘She went round the whole shop with me, told me about her kids, carried the basket and pushed the pram. And honestly I’ll never forget that, definitely saved me from bursting into tears and leaving the shop.’
–kbwe1

17.

‘I was in Paris, on the Metro trying to get from CDG to the 16ieme, about 10pm. Had my arm in a sling due to an elbow injury, carrying/rolling a suitcase with my other arm. After the second steep flight of stairs to head out of the Metro, I was really struggling, and unable to swap arms. A big, tough looking black fella walked alongside, and without a word, took my case and carried it up the remaining stairs to ground level.

‘For reference, I’m 6ft and can look after myself, but he dwarfed me, and the Paris metro is not the safest place to be at night. I was so exhausted I just thanked him in broken French, with a tear in my eye. A real life good Samaritan.’
–hairybastid

18.

‘Got a free bottle of gin from a shop owner when I treated one of his employees who had just collapsed and had a seizure. I’d merely gone in for some beer post a very crappy day of work. Was nice actually helping after a day of treating multiple insoluble problems.’
–docmagoo2

19.

‘I was walking past a lady gardening with her husband and said to her she has a beautiful garden. We got chatting about the different things they grow, and she gave me a bunch of lavender from her bush. I thought that was so sweet and since then I’ve tried to be that person.’
–HawaiianHoney11

20.

‘When I was about five, I got lost while out playing (I had wondered off about three or four miles in hindsight). A group of goths saw me wandering around bleary-eyed and helped me find my way home.’
–IndividualCurious322

21.

‘Struggling as a teenager to get connecting trains on my way home to a family bereavement, crying and trying to figure out the best way between stations (before I had a smartphone). A homeless man gave me a tissue, and carried my bag to the right station. I’ll never forget him.’
–schluffschluff

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