Taxi driver makes unpaid 100 mile-round-trip to get man to Scottish hospital for 'life-changing' brain surgery

A taxi driver has been praised for driving a man to hospital for a brain operation after his pre-arranged transport was cancelled due to the snow.

Scott Miller, 26, from Perth, who helped give Ricky Rutherford a lift to hospital for "life-changing" surgery.

Scott Miller, of taxi firm A&B, saw a plea on Facebook urging someone to give a man a lift from Firth of Forth town Rosyth to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for life-changing surgery on Wednesday.

It is understood the patient, Ricky Rutherford, had arranged transport to take him to the hospital the day before his operation, but it was cancelled due to snowy conditions.

Scott, from Perth, responded to the post immediately and plans were made for him to drive Ricky to the hospital for the brain surgery, which took place today.

"I responded to the post straight away and was put in touch with Ricky directly,” the 26-year-old said.

"I reassured him that I would definitely do the trip for free, he just needed to let me know where I needed to pick him up.”

The journey from collecting Ricky to dropping him off at the hospital and returning home to Perth again was about a 100 mile trip in total, Scott said, but he was “more than happy” to help.

"The community is what helps pay my wages every day so I just thought I can do something like this to give back a bit,” he said.

"I understand there were a few offers made, some asking for payment, some not. The main thing is he got there in time for his operation and the surgery can go ahead.

"I have left it with him to get in touch if he needs a lift back when he's ready to be discharged.”

Scott said he isn’t sure of the exact figure it would have cost a customer for the lengthy trip, but not far off £100.

Lynne Head, who has known Ricky for 40 years, initially put the post up on Facebook community group Fife Jammer Locations.

She said the response has been overwhelming to support Ricky who has been waiting for months for the operation to go ahead.

“This surgery is going to be life-changing for him if it all goes smoothly,” Lynne, 42, said.

"He was really stressed out when the transport wasn’t able to pick him up so I just had to put out a call for help.

"He only has ten per cent hearing at the moment because of a cyst he’s got and this surgery will hopefully help that.

"I just can’t thank the taxi driver enough for offering such a kind gesture getting him all that way for free.

"Public transport wasn’t looking promising because of the weather.”

Lynne, who works as a cleaner and lives in Rosyth, said she wanted to offer her friend a lift but she had little confidence her car was going to make the journey in the wintry conditions.

She said Ricky will be in hospital for about a week following his operation which was scheduled to start at about 9am this morning.

"I am so relieved he got there,” she added.

"It’s honestly wonderful seeing people coming together like that offering to help.”

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