A St. Paul, Minnesota, man is being called a hero after he jumped onto a moving school bus to rescue 19 children when the driver experienced a medical emergency. Ebro Ahmed, 27, was on a break from his job at a local tobacco shop when he saw the Battle Creek Middle School bus moving with its doors open and the driver appearing to seize up.
Ahmed, a business student, ran to catch up with the bus, which was traveling at approximately 10 mph. He managed to board the vehicle and move into the driver's seat. Despite having no prior experience driving a bus, he successfully brought it to a stop.
"I tried to put it in park," Ahmed told KSTP. "I threw it in reverse by accident, and then I ended up getting it in neutral, pulled the parking brake."
According to CBS News, Ahmed stated he saw the driver was “obviously having a medical emergency” and felt a moral obligation to intervene. "If I was just to let him drive away, I would not be human," he said.
None of the 19 students on board were injured, though some were reportedly frightened. Ahmed instructed the children to call 911 and assisted the driver, who was later hospitalized but has since been released.
Ahmed drew inspiration for his actions from the medical drama television series "Grey's Anatomy." "In ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ you never see doctors panic," he told ABC News. "I know it’s all acting and stuff, so I just knew to be calm and just think everything through."
He added that the show taught him how to handle unexpected situations. "So it’s just something like, you know, some tips and tricks that you could use for the rest of your life."
Ahmed downplayed his actions, telling ABC News, “I really felt like it was my duty. Also, too, it’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it.”
Online, many have praised Ahmed's bravery, with some suggesting that the producers of "Grey's Anatomy" should offer him a guest role on the show.