Transdev employee Steven Arabajiev is being hailed a hero after his prompt action helped save a passenger’s life
Arabajiev was driving a Route 246 bus near St Kilda Rd in early May when an elderly woman boarded his bus. The woman told Steven she felt seriously ill and needed to go to hospital.
“She seemed very unwell, it was clear to me she needed medical assistance,” Arabajiev explains.
“There were a few other passengers already on the bus, so I explained to them that we needed to get to The Alfred Hospital emergency department straight away, and none of them objected.”
It has since emerged that Arabajiev’s quick thinking helped save the woman’s life, as she was having a heart attack. She underwent emergency heart surgery as soon as she was admitted to hospital.
Not long after the incident, Arabajiev’s manager Tomina Carr received a phone call from the woman’s son, wishing to pass on the family’s gratitude. The woman has also been in touch to thank him personally.
Arabajiev’s actions are a great example of the characteristics of their drivers and demonstrate high standards of safety and customer service, Carr says.
“We’re very proud to have people like Steven as Journey Makers at Transdev,” Carr says.
“Steven is very humble and thinks he was just doing his job; he believes anybody would have of done the same thing, but there’s no doubt that in this instance he showed tremendous compassion and foresight.
“He deserves to be called a hero for his ability to respond calmly and proactively to assist someone requiring urgent medical attention.”