Good Samaritan who saved Gold Coast girl from bus stalker speaks out
A good Samaritan who rescued a teenage girl from a bus stalker has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal. HER WARNING
Northern
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A good Samaritan says her “instinct kicked in” when she decided to stop her car to rescue a teenage girl from a terrifying stalker.
The 15-year-old girl had got off a bus early on Tuesday afternoon after a stranger swtiched seats to be closer to her and asked “inappropriate sexual questions”.
He followed her off the bus at Upper Coomera.
A woman driving past said she saw a girl walking fast who was in “obvious distress” and stopped.
“Then I pulled up beside her, opened the window and said ‘are you OK?,’ Helz (surname withheld) told the Bulletin.
“She’s run to the car, I’ve let her in and then the guy has attempted to walk towards the car.”
Helz said the man ran off after the teen got in the car.
“I gave the girl a lift home. She didn’t speak too much, she was quite overwhelmed.
“The only thing she really told me was that she wanted to go home and that he followed her off the bus.”
The girl’s mother recounted the shocking ordeal in an anonymous post on a Facebook community group.
“My daughter was approached by a man on the bus that goes through Highland Reserve to Coomera,” the post read.
“He proceeded to ask her inappropriate sexual questions and moving seats to be closer to her.
“My girl made a choice to get off the bus early to get away from him not realising that he would follow her.
“She walked as fast as she could to get away from him, crossed the road twice and asked him to stop following her, yet he continued.”
The mother said a woman driving past pulled over to check on the girl and scared off the stalker.
Helz said she had spoken to the girl’s mother, who was grateful for what she did.
“(The family) were there waiting for her at the bus stop and when the bus arrived, they realised something was wrong,” Helz said.
“They weren’t able to contact her so they were driving around looking for her.
“I think the community needs to be more aware of the vulnerabilities of young people and being approachable if something were ever to occur like that again.”
The Bulletin has contacted police for comment.
A TransLink spokesman said the safety of public transport customers was its top priority.
“Security officers are deployed across the Gold Coast public transport network including Surfside buses and can respond to incidents,” he said.
“TransLink will continue to work with the bus operator to provide a safe environment for passengers travelling on buses and will assist the Queensland Police Service with any enquiries.
“Surfside buses are fitted with CCTV cameras and any passenger concerns while on board should be communicated with the bus driver or directly to police if personal safety is an immediate concern.
“QPS remain the lead authority for responding to and investigating any assaults or anti-social behaviour.”
Helz described the man as having a slim build, brown short hair and wearing cargo pants, a cream short-sleeved t-shirt and work boots.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.
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