A courageous bus driver, Mark Hehir, shared his ordeal of spending six days in intensive care after contracting an infection from a thief he apprehended. He was terminated by his employer, Metroline, for pursuing a robber who had stolen a passenger’s necklace in London in June 2024.

Despite an employment tribunal upholding the company’s decision to dismiss him, there has been a widespread outcry with a petition signed by tens of thousands advocating for his reinstatement. Both the victim and the Justice Secretary have expressed support for Mr. Hehir, with David Lammy praising him as a deserving hero.

In an interview with LBC, the ex-bus driver recounted how he ended up in intensive care due to a severe bacterial infection he acquired from striking the thief’s teeth during the altercation. He underwent two surgeries on his hand, narrowly avoiding amputation as the infection spread rapidly.

Mr. Hehir claimed that just a week after being released from the hospital, Metroline summoned him to their depot and informed him of his immediate dismissal without pay on July 15. The impact of losing his job has been devastating, with him describing the past 19 months as a period of immense hardship where he lost his income and pension.

One of the passengers, Katalin Kaszas, recounted the incident where Mark chased down the thief who had stolen her necklace, ultimately returning the stolen item. She described how the thief attempted to attack her, only for the driver to intervene and protect her with a forceful blow.

Following the altercation between Wembley and Maida Vale, both Mr. Hehir and the passenger were arrested but later released without further action. The tribunal was presented with a note from a detective affirming that the force used by Mark was appropriate given the circumstances.

A fundraising campaign titled “Mark Hehir – the hero bus driver” has garnered over £36,000 of its £40,000 target on GoFundMe, with contributions aimed at directly supporting him without any conditions attached. Efforts to reach Metroline for comment have been made.

This website uses cookies and other identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and display personalized advertisements. Users can opt out of data sharing by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the webpage. By using the site and its services, users agree to the use of cookies and acknowledge the privacy and terms and conditions policies outlined.