Woman stranded in torrential rain when wheelchair breaks calls Kingston police after car drivers ignore her

Saved: Ms Adjei with the four police officers who helped her
Kingston police
Mark Chandler13 July 2016

A woman whose wheelchair broke down in the pouring rain had to call the police after passing drivers ignored her plight.

Gabrielle Adjei, dressed in linen trousers and a summery top, was in Kingston Hill on the way to a bus stop when the heavens unexpectedly opened yesterday afternoon.

Ms Adjei, whose mobility is severely limited by multiple sclerosis, was drenched when her electric wheelchair malfunctioned in the wet weather, leaving her stuck on the pavement for around half an hour.

She attempted to get help from a stream of passing car drivers who either ignored her or did not realise the 38-year-old’s predicament.

Ms Adjei said: “I have never been so frightened, I was stuck, unable to move and I didn't know who to turn to. I was soaked through and freezing cold.”

She said: “My summer outfit was completely soaked. It felt like somebody had put the shower on full blast.”

“I was flapping around but the drivers might have thought I was a crazy woman,” she said.

“I was trying to attract a car but they didn’t stop. Lots of them kept driving past.

“I was waving my hands because that’s all I could do. I was thinking, if I was in a car, would I stop or keep driving?

“It’s not obvious, but I just needed help.”

After calling the police, one passer-by volunteered to help and pushed the wheelchair to a nearby bus shelter where she could wait for officers to arrive.

Shortly after she called, PC Steve Ogles and PC Ollie Burgess from Kingston police arrived.

After trying and failing to fix her wheelchair, the pair called for a police van and, along with two colleagues, drove her home to Putney Heath.

Ms Adjei said “These officers rescued me from a horrendous situation and I will always be grateful.

“I know this is something they normally wouldn't do, but I had no choice. We are so lucky to have officers like these four keeping an eye on us in London.”

PC Ogles said “A big part of policing is helping those in moments of need and protecting the vulnerable.

“This was an unusual situation for us however we were more than happy to help, it’s all a part of the job.”

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