Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Woman trying to find stranger who left kind note after seizure on London train

Ellie Farnfield is trying to find 'Tom', the man whose acts of kindness 'restored her faith in humanity'

Lizzie Dearden
Saturday 24 October 2015 11:09 BST
Comments
Ellie Farnfield awoke to find this note, a cup of coffee and £10 for a taxi left by a kind stranger
Ellie Farnfield awoke to find this note, a cup of coffee and £10 for a taxi left by a kind stranger (Ellie Farnfield/Facebook)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A woman is searching for the good Samaritan who carried her off a train, called the emergency services, bought her a coffee and paid for a taxi home when she had a seizure.

Ellie Farnfield, 27, was travelling from Redhill in Surrey to London Victoria on Wednesday when she fell unconscious.

She came around on the floor to find the coffee, a £10 note and the handwritten letter from a man giving his name only as Tom.

“I hope by the time you read this you are feeling better,” the note said.

“You had a seizure on the train and I took you off.


Ms Farnfield had been travelling into London on a Southern Trains service

 Ms Farnfield had been travelling into London on a Southern Trains service
 (Getty Images)

“You didn't hit your head but I may have hurt your leg as I walked on it before realising you were on the floor having a fit! Sorry!

“I'm also sorry I can't stay with you now but here is a coffee to perk you up later and £10 to make sure you get a taxi home.

“Sorry I don't have any more money so I hope you don't live far away.

“I've contacted people from your phone and medical help is on its way and you're with train staff.

“Wishing you all the best and a quick recovery. Love Tom.”

Ms Farnfield, an acupuncture student, shared a photo of the note on Facebook and started the #findtraintom campaign to thank the kind stranger.

“Faith restored in humanity in London last night. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me – especially ‘Tom’,” she wrote in the post that was shared more than 1,000 times.

Ms Farnfield told Mail Online she was left feeling “quite emotional” by the mystery man’s generosity and wanted to thank him for his help, as well as returning his money.

“Anything could have happened. I could have hit my head, fallen off the train, been there for a long time,” she added.

“There is something really lovely about the kindness of a stranger. If I meet him, drinks are on me.”

As the campaign to find the elusive Tom continued to spread, she wrote on Facebook that she was “overwhelmed” by the response, adding: “Fingers crossed we find him.”

If you can help find Tom, let us know by emailing lizzie.dearden@independent.co.uk.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in