Student praised for holding hands with disabled bus passenger

THIS man has been hailed an “inspiration” after holding hands and comforting a stranger with cerebral palsy on a bus in Canada.

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IT’S the photo that will warm your heart, and has won the praise of the internet the world over.

21-year-old student, Godfrey Coutto, was on his way home from a shift at a burrito restaurant, when a man approached him, wanting to shake his hand.

The man, known only as Robert, who has cerebral palsy, didn’t let go of Mr Coutto’s for the duration of the trip. Instead, Robert hugged Godfrey and even kissed his hands.

Initially, Godfrey thought he was being pranked, but the realised Robert “just needed comfort,” he told Huffington Post Canada.

“I was like, ‘Yo, what’s going on? Am I getting pranked or something?” I wasn’t. I looked at him [and realised] he’s special needs,” Mr Coutto told Global News.

“Sometimes you just have to be selfless and put someone else’s needs above yours.”

The image of Robert embracing Godfrey was captured and uploaded to the ‘Only in Hamilton’ Facebook page, which has now received 44,000 views.

“This was my first time encountering such a thing. I was obviously freaked out but I tried to understand his position,” Mr Coutto said.

“I thought, you know what, I’m just going to allow it. I’ll let him do his thing. I’ll comfort him.’