The price of compassion

‘Bystander’ writes:- WHILE walking along Mark Street [on Sunday], I noticed a passing K9 police vehicle stopping next to a crippled man who was lying on the pavement. The man was being attacked by hundreds of bees. He tried, to no avail, to cover his face with a plastic bag. The police officer tried his best to wipe some of the bees away, but was stung himself. He then called to a bystander to run to a nearby shop and ask them for spray. In no time the bystander was back with a can of Doom. The police officer started spraying the bees, and in the mean time the bees also attacked passers-by. I could see numerous sting marks on the crippled man’s hands, neck and face. His eyes were closed and he could not speak. The police officer then called for an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance, I heard one of the ladies from the nearby shop complaining about the police officer spraying the man with the Doom, and then asking him, “Who will pay for the Doom?” She said that she didn’t know what she was going to say to her boss. The policeman kept his cool and told the lady that he would pay for the Doom, valued at R19.90, as soon as the man had been helped by the ambulance people. Upon hearing this, a passing motorist handed R20 to the police officer who then paid the shop assistant. We, the community, always complain about the police and ambulance services, but what I saw changed my mind about both services. Both parties acted very professionally. I can only wonder about the shop assistant. The value of a can of Doom was more important to her than the life of a sick and crippled man. R19.90 was more important to her. A big thank you to the police officer and the ambulance personnel.