An elderly man is in despair after a group of thugs stole and wrecked his mobility scooter which has been a social lifeline while he is recovering from a traumatic heart attack that nearly killed him.
In May, Bill Green, 77, found himself unable to breathe and was rushed to A&E where his heart stopped.
But thankfully he survived and his relieved family were so elated they clubbed together to buy a mobility scooter - which would allow him to get out and about.
He's now distraught after this lifeline which helped him socialise was taken from outside the Crow's Nest pub in Longhill, Hull, where he was playing Bingo on Wednesday night, Hull Live reports.
There are reports a group of youths took his scooter.
His family and friends then searched the area for the scooter and it was found just a short distance away on Holderness Road and was trashed beyond repair.
Bill’s daughter Julie Green, of Longhill, is now pleading for information to trace those responsible.
"My dad had gone to the Crow’s Nest pub to play bingo and he left his scooter outside,” she said.
“The regulars who go out for a smoke always keep an eye on it but there was a short period when no one was outside and it was taken at around 9pm on Wednesday.
“We all went searching for it and it was found at 9am the next day less than a mile away. It was completely smashed up.”
While the gratuitous act helped pass a few minutes of time for those involved, the impact will last much longer for Bill.
“The scooter was a lifeline for my dad,” Julie said.
“In May he could not breathe and he was taken to hospital by ambulance where his heart stopped.
We were told by the medical staff he would not survive but somehow he did.
"Even after this, he ended up with Covid for 16 days. He now has a ventilator every night as he can't get carbon dioxide out as his diaphragm is too weak.
“His legs swelled up after and he cannot walk far anymore.
“It was such a massive thing for us that he survived, we decided to all chip in and buy him a mobility scooter.”
Not only has Bill lost the scooter, but he now also feels responsible for leaving it unattended.
“The scooter has become very important to him and has become a life support,” Julie said.
“We are all very, very frustrated. If they had taken it to sell and make money at least it would make more sense but what they have done is so pointless.
“They just took it and then destroyed it. We can’t understand why they have done this.
“My dad now feels guilty for leaving it outside when everyone helped pay for it.
“He has been crying over what happened and so have I."
There has been a bit of good news after the family posted about the theft on social media.
“After we put something on social media someone has kindly come forward and lent him a scooter for a few weeks but we don’t know what will happen after that,” Julie said
“Unfortunately, the scooter was uninsured and we cannot afford to get him a new one."
Julie has a message to those who stole and then trashed the scooter.
“Why?” she said, “What have you gained from doing that?
“It is just a pointless act that has taken an elderly man’s lifeline away. If my dad just ends up stuck in the house all day then he will go downhill massively.”
Humberside Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
A spokeswoman said: “We are investigating the theft of a mobility scooter which was reported as stolen from Douglas Road in Hull on Wednesday, January 5 between 4pm and 9pm.
“The blue and black scooter was left securely outside and was stolen leaving the elderly owner very distressed and vulnerable.
“The scooter was later found abandoned and damaged on Holderness Road.
“We are appealing for anyone with information that would help identify the person who stole the scooter to call us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting reference 16/11635/22.”
Julie has now organised a GoFundMe page to raise money for a new scooter which has already topped £1,000. If you would like to donate, click here.
