Australian man found in Bedfordview streets reunites with family

Community security NPO Residents Action Group (RAG) and alert residents came to the rescue of an unwell visitor from Australia who had become disorientated and was wandering in Bedfordview’s streets.

The man, initially mistaken for homeless, has been reunited with his family.

This comes after the RAG reaction officers on patrol noticed a new face on the streets.

“This was not one of the usual homeless people the officers monitor daily.

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“We also received calls from concerned residents, and they posted reports about him on the RAG emergency WhatsApp group.

“That’s when we started investigating,” said RAG’s volunteer chairperson Anjela da Silva.

RAG’s GM, Mark Morris, found the man. He was dirty, disorientated, and incoherent.

“He was refusing assistance but as soon as he spoke, and I saw the good condition of his teeth, I knew something was not right, and he was not a homeless man.

“I also checked his hands, and they did not show signs of a life on the street,” Morris said.

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Morris called the emergency services, including his son, Christopher, an advanced life support responder at Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (GEMS).

“Chris went above and beyond. He insisted a second ambulance should be dispatched and went there himself to ensure that the patient was treated, taken to hospital by that ambulance and not left to fend for himself, which happened with the first ambulance call out,” Morris reported.

RAG worked with social services and the hospital to establish who the man was and discovered he was on holiday from Australia and had become unwell.

He left his hotel in a confused state, wandered the streets, and was finally found at an empty stand. By this time, he had been robbed of everything.

His name, as it turned out, is Stuart B. He is an airline employee from Sydney, Australia.

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His family informed RAG he had a medical condition that progressed rapidly and resulted in him becoming delirious.

Mark and Christopher Morris met Stuart’s family after they came from Australia.

“They were enormously grateful to everyone who helped to save the life of the beloved ‘baby’ brother who they call ‘Little Man’.

“The outcome could have been different if not for our diligent, dedicated RAG reaction officers and our alert, kind-hearted community.

“It was fortunate that we got help to him when we did, because Stuart may not have survived much longer on the streets.

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“He was hit on the head when robbed, and suffering from dehydration and severe sunburn when we got an ambulance to him.

“This was during the recent scorching heatwave.”

The NPO thanked everyone who contributed to helping him, including Sifiso Dhlalisa, the manager of the Mercure Hotel in Bedfordview, where Stuart was staying.

“This is what community is about, and RAG is proud to be part of our special community,” said Morris.

He stressed an important lesson from Stuart’s story was we should not assume that someone on the street in a confused state is a vagrant who cannot be helped.

“Call your security service provider, local authorities, or emergency services.

“Let them investigate,” he said.