A kind Edinburgh stranger paid for a hero nurse's food shopping after her card was declined due to a technical mishap in a local supermarket.
Debbie Aughey was doing her weekly shop between long nurse shifts at Lidl on Easter Road when her card was declined due to supposedly putting in the wrong pin number.
The 42-year-old had no option but to leave the food shop and head home, minutes after returning to her home the doorbell went and to Debbie's surprise a kind stranger was standing there with two bags of shopping.
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The kind man in his thirties explained he had overheard the situation and bought the shopping before trying to catch up with the nurse.
Luckily Debbie lived nearby and selfless stranger saw her go into a tenement that he recognised as he knew a gentleman who also lived there.
After speaking to Willie, Debbie's neighbour he was able to find the correct door and deliver the shopping to her.
The nurse was lost for words at the lovely gesture and said it was the "kindest" thing anybody had ever done for her.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live she said: "It was Thursday morning at Lidl on Easter Road, I put my card in the machine and had a total memory blank.
"The shop assistant said the pin was incorrect, I tried again but the card was blocked so I came home and called the bank.
"It turns out it was actually an issue with Lidl's card machine but that's another story. Shortly after getting in the door went and there was a man in his thirties standing there with my shopping.
"He explained he had seen the situation paid for my shopping then tried to run after me. Luckily he knew my neighbour Willy who was able to locate him to my door.
"I offered to pay him back but he said no, I have been to my neighbours since to try and get in touch but he is never in.
"That has never happened to me before, I had an appointment straight after and Lidl had taken the money for the shopping out of my account so I only had two pounds in my bank that I had to use for bus fare to get there.
"That's why I was so grateful, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn't have eaten that night."
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She continued: "He was in his early thirties, it's not often you see such kind behaviour from younger men.
"It's one of the kindest things that has ever happened to me, just absolutely lovely.
"I'm so grateful."
Debbie is still very keen to track down the kind stranger to thank him and let him know how much the selfless act meant to her.
If you think this may be you or know who it may have been please do get in touch at iona.young@reachplc.com
