WHEN Angie Simpkins toppled out of her wheelchair on her driveway she thought she would lie there for hours before help came along.

But big-hearted bus driver Ray Funnel saw the stricken 44-year-old as he drove the number 17 Thamesdown service along Welcome Avenue and immediately leapt to her aid.

Passengers also filed off the bus, bound for Penhill, to help Angie back into her chair.

Now Angie, who has mobility problems due to a brain tumour, wants to thank those she says are her heroes.

Speaking through friend Liz Parker-Drabble, Angie said: “I was trying to get the boot of the car open when I was knocked out of my wheelchair. I was just laying there in the street and didn’t know how I was going to get up again.

“But the bus came to a halt and out jumped the bus driver and some passengers and they helped me up.”

Angie was preparing to leave for Headways brain charity in Headlands when the accident happened.

Liz, 47, said: “because of her tumour and other health problems she does have a lot of mobility issues and cognitive impairment which makes things very hard.

“She has been left in a lot of pain by the fall but is incredibly grateful to everyone who helped.”

Bus driver Ray, 60, said he did not think anything of his actions.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss,” he said.

“We have a responsibility to help people and I could see she needed my help so that is exactly what I gave her. I can’t believe that anyone could pass that lady by and not do a thing.

“I was driving up Welcome Avenue on the Parks to Penhill route when I saw this lady laying in the pavement with a wheelchair beside her.

“I just stopped the bus and checked if she was all right but I couldn’t get her into her chair so I asked the passengers to help me. I am glad she is OK.”

Modest Ray, from Liden, did not even tell his boss about the incident until the Adver called Thamesdown Transport to try to track him down.

Angie added: “Living with disability is so isolating and you can lose your faith in humanity a bit but this has changed my mind completely.

“I can’t thank him and his passengers enough.”