A Whakatāne resident says she is "so grateful" to a local legend with the same name as her husband, who picked up her father from hospital after being mistakenly called.
When Norman Camburn, 86, was discharged from Whakatāne Hospital, he told staff to call his wife. When she didn't answer, they tried his son-in-law, Richard Hayes, to come and collect him.
However, a different local man — also named Richard Hayes — answered the call, and decided to go pick up the stranger from the hospital anyway to ensure he got home safely.
"It was like 'no, I don't know a Norman at all'. I used to have an uncle Norman, but that was the extent of it," Hayes told Breakfast.
He said he was "aware of another Hayes family in the area", but had no connection to them himself.
"I had a space in my diary so I just thought, ah well, I'll go and grab him, he needs to be out of hospital," he laughed.
Hayes dropped him off at his place, where he got a confused look from Camburn’s wife in the driveway, according to Stuff.
Camburn insisted on a payment or a gift but Hayes refused, saying "everywhere’s 15 minutes in Whakatāne. It actually took me longer to get him in the car than to drive there".
The humble hero said he didn't need any praise, just that "you give a hand where you can".
The family took to Facebook, searching for the kind stranger who was now being hailed a local legend.
Norman's daughter, Joanne Hayes told Breakfast they simply "found the wrong Richard".
She said the family were "so grateful" to Richard for stepping up to look after her dad, regardless of the lack of blood relation.
"I just want to thank you so, so much," she said to Hayes.
Health NZ has been approached for comment.
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