Yahoo Finance Heartwarming surprise for driver who gave coronavirus patients free hospital rides
A Spanish taxi driver has received a surprise from doctors and nurses, after taking coronavirus patients to a local hospital free of charge.
The unnamed taxi driver arrived at the Madrid hospital after staff rang and asked him to pick up a patient, only to be greeted by a standing ovation and a cheque.
"Es una sorpresa que le hemos dado a un taxista que lleva a pacientes sin cobrar al hospital.Le hemos dado un sobre con dinero y una dedicatoria.Le hemos llamado para decirle que tenía que hacer un traslado y ha sido muy emocionante. No paraba de llorar."
Gracias a el y a ellos. pic.twitter.com/CcXX1BVfko— #ElTaxiUnido (@eltaxiunido) April 18, 2020
The driver also received the results for his coronavirus test - which was negative.
In a clip shared by the Spanish Taxi Union, which has been seen more than 9.5 million times, the taxi driver is moved to tears.
"It is a surprise that we have given a taxi driver who takes patients without charge to the hospital,” the staff told the Union.
“We have given him an envelope with money and a dedication. We have called him to say that he had to make a transfer and it has been very exciting.”
The Taxi Union said all taxis were disinfected after each use, and follow strict cleaning protocols.
Despite the drastic drop in income, the Professional Taxi Federation of Madrid estimates that drivers in the area had given out at least 75,000 free lifts during the first month of lockdown, taking patients from their homes to as many as 300 different health centres.
Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths from the virus and nearly 200,000 cases.
Veteran’s gift to hospital staff
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe, acts of kindness have emerged.
99-year-old English veteran Tom Moore raised over £25 million (AU$49 million), after his bid to raise £1,000 pounds by his 100th birthday went viral.
Moore, or Captain Tom Moore as he goes by on Twitter, wanted to raise money for England’s National Health Service (NHS), which he said had been “marvellous” in helping him recover from skin cancer and a hip replacement.
The NHS is now battling mounting coronavirus cases in the UK.
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