Quick thinking strangers come to the aid of woman who needed help on bus to Asda

A woman has expressed her gratitude to the kind strangers who came to her aid after she suffered a medical episode on a bus. Rianne Pimblett was on her way to Asda in Birkenhead, Merseyside, for her weekly shopping when she had an epileptic seizure.

The 24 year old from Wallasey told the ECHO that she believes running for the bus triggered her seizure. She said: "I had run for the bus, I had seen it coming and realised I was late for it so I legged it. I don't exercise and I think that triggered it. I managed to get on the bus, I sat down and couldn't catch my breath. I started hyperventilating. I couldn't see properly, couldn't lift my arms up.

"I thought I was being very inconspicuous about it, I didn't want to draw attention to what was happening. But in the middle of the bus journey I said to another passenger 'can you get me a sugary drink? ' and luckily he clicked what was going on. A man got me an Irn-Bru and a lady fed it to me, it helped me come round.

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"Everyone was amazing. The bus driver pulled over the bus and put it out of service. He got me a glass of coke, until my boyfriend picked me up."

Rianne had been travelling on the 411 bus service from Seacombe. The bus had pulled into Birkenhead bus station when she had the seizure, reports the Liverpool Echo.

She added: "I don't have the stereotypical seizure so people confuse me with just fainting, I just go limp.

"I don't have big seizures, the last time I had one was July last year and I usually only have absent seizures, which are not common at all. Sleep quality is a massive trigger for me and I hadn't been sleeping well when it happened, so I also skipped breakfast."

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She's on a mission to dispel myths about epilepsy and educate others on how to assist someone during a seizure. She explained: "People often think you're supposed to put your fingers in their mouth so they don't swallow their tongue but don't ever do that. Don't ever put anything in anyone's mouth who is having a seizure, they will often get lockjaw and you could lose fingers.

"You should also time the seizure. If it lasts longer than five minutes, it's considered status epilepticus, which means they won't come out of it naturally and will need medication. If they have hurt themselves then ring an ambulance. People with epilepsy will most likely wear something that shows they have it."

Grateful for the support she received during her ordeal, Rianne added: "Everyone was so great when it happened, I didn't manage to get everyone's names but I just want to thank them for helping me. I'm feeling fine now."