Hero Ron on hand for mayday call in storm as Inverness taxi driver drove through all weathers to get his passenger to his destination during Storm Arwen
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A taxi driver drove through all weathers to get his passenger to his destination during Storm Arwen.
Ron Fleming, from Inverness, survived with only a slightly damaged car, after being tasked to get a husband back home to Aberdeen after the passenger’s wife made a mayday call.
Mr Fleming, who has worked at Inverness Taxis for 21 years and is celebrating his 72nd birthday today, said he was more fool than foolhardy when it came to getting his passenger home.
He said: “When I got the call to pick up at Inverness train station last Friday I checked the road information and it said that one road was closed. There were no weather warnings at that time.
“I knew if I didn’t take the job, then one of the other drivers would have taken it, and I would not have been able to live with myself if something happened to them.
“So, we set out to get the passenger home. On the way we had to take five diversions, and at one point the passenger said he might stay with friends in Lossiemouth, but he then got a distressed call from his wife in Aberdeen to say their home had been damaged in the storm and they had no power, so he asked me to take him to Aberdeen and I said I would try.”
Hours later, with debris all over the road, including a tree smashing into the window on his Toyota Avensis estate car, the passenger was delivered to his destination.
Mr Fleming, knowing that his wife was not impressed that he had made the trip, returned home, finding diversions with the help of police.
He said: “It took me nine hours altogether. It was like a war zone.”
Gavin Johnston, owner of Inverness Taxis, said: “Our long-standing driver Ron is my hero.
“There is a fine line between delivering a great service and madness – but the fact the passenger’s vulnerable wife needed help, and that Ron didn’t want to put any of his colleagues at risk is commendable.”
