A Minnesota man who saved 19 children stuck in an out-of-control school bus credited an unlikely inspiration for his heroic actions – the TV show Grey’s Anatomy.
Ebro Ahmed, 27, was standing outside a convenience store in St Paul on Monday when he spotted the bus hurtling past with its doors splayed open.
As the vehicle sped past, Ahmed could see that the driver appeared to be having a seizure.
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the bus, climbed aboard and pulled the emergency brake just seconds before the situation could have turned into a disaster.
Ahmed told CBS News that his favorite show, Grey’s Anatomy, is what inspired his quick thinking.
‘In Grey’s Anatomy, you never see doctors panic,’ the young man told the outlet. The series follows medical professionals as they navigate emergencies and high-pressure situations.
He said that although the show is just actors portraying characters, it helped him understand that in emergencies it is important ‘to be calm and just think everything through.’
Ahmed added that the show teaches ‘you about what to do in situations that you never could see yourself in.’
This school bus with 19 children inside was speeding down the road in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Monday as the driver was having a medical emergency
Ebro Ahmed, 27, saw the bus hurtling past and immediately ran over to stop it before anyone was harmed
Ahmed said his brave actions were inspired by his favorite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. ‘In Grey’s Anatomy, you never see doctors panic,’ he said
Ahmed said Grey’s Anatomy teaches ‘you about what to do in situations that you never could see yourself in.’ A moment from the TV show is pictured
Surveillance footage released by the convenience store Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco captured the remarkable moment Ahmed rushed to help.
The footage shows him looking at his phone on the street before peering up as the bus went past, then running through its open doors. The bus could then be seen reversing before coming to a stop.
Ahmed told KTSP: ‘So I just ran out to the bus, I tried to put it in park, I threw it in reverse by accident, and then I ended up getting it in neutral, pulled the parking brake.’
The 27-year-old said he never stopped to consider the danger he was putting himself in with a bus full of children at risk.
‘I really felt like it was my duty,’ he told ABC News. ‘It’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it.’
Ahmed recalled children screaming on the bus while others remained calm as he worked to bring the situation under control.
He praised two girls sitting near the front who helped him as he tried to manage the crisis.
Ahmed said he threw his phone and glasses to one of the girls and asked her to hold them while he concentrated on the emergency.
Ahmed said he was not worried about his safety and that his only concern was helping the children. ‘Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it,’ he said
‘These two girls on the front really did help me a lot,’ he said.
Saint Paul Public Schools confirmed to ABC News that a medical emergency had occurred aboard the bus and that paramedics responded to the scene before taking the driver to the hospital.
No one was injured thanks to Ahmed’s bravery, and the school district said the children were transferred to another bus before being sent home. Counselors checked in with the students on Tuesday.
The driver who suffered a medical emergency has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, the school district said.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ahmed for comment.
