9 January 2025

NSW Police have formally thanked Busways Gosford bus driver Rod Burton for quick thinking actions which helped save the life of one of their employees last October.

Driving his route through Erina, Rod noticed a man slumped over at a bus stop.  Realising something was wrong, he stopped, even though it wasn’t a stop on his route, to check if the man was alright. He notified Busways Operations Control Centre to call emergency services and stayed with him until they arrived. Medical professionals later confirmed that Rod’s timely intervention was crucial in saving his life.

That man was Mustafa Erem, a Review Officer with the NSW Police and this week he joined his superiors in thanking Rod for his life saving actions.

Superintendent Marc Beckinsale of the Governance Audit and Risk Directorate and Chief Inspector Darrin Gobbe, Mustafa’s direct supervisor, visited Gosford Depot with Mustafa and presented Rod with a formal Certificate of Appreciation.

Superintendent Beckinsale said the ‘amazing incident’ of looking after ‘one of the Police family’ meant Rod had now become part of the extended Police family.

“Your actions on that day are worthy of merit and formal recognition – they were noteworthy because of the effect it had for us in preserving the life of one of our Police family members.  We’re very pleased you did what you did, and that Mustafa is still with us.”

Mustafa lives on the Central Coast with his wife and son, who has a disability. He explained he was unaware he was having a heart attack, but had lost vision and the ability to move, when his ‘guardian angel’ pulled over to help.

“I was alone at the Bunnings bus stop, and all of a sudden, I couldn’t see and couldn’t talk or move and that’s when Rod came and helped. When I went to the hospital, they said ‘thank the bus driver, he saved your life’, so that’s what we are doing here today.” 

Rod and Mustafa have since caught up for coffee and plan on keeping in touch long term.

A bus driver for two years, Rod said he saw that Mustafa was in trouble and ‘just did what I normally do and I went to help’.

‘I didn’t know who he was or where he worked but when I stopped to see if he was OK, I could see he wanted to communicate but nothing was coming out, and he was turning grey so instinct just kicked in. 

“A female passenger also came to help – she had suffered a heart attack previously so recognised some of the signs and we got him to lay down on the ground to improve his blood flow and just reassured him until the ambulance arrived.  I’d like to thank the female passenger for her assistance.”

“I am glad that I was able to help. I was doing my duty as a human. I just thought that I must help him at that time, and I am glad that he is fine today and can still be with his family. I’m thankful to the NSW Police team for coming here to share their gratitude.  If we are all just a bit considerate and try to help each other, we can make the world a better place.”

A bus driver for two years, Rod says he loves his bus driving gig especially because of the camaraderie with the team at Gosford Depot where everyone is willing to help one another out.

It reminds us that kindness and attentiveness can make a world of difference.