A 67-year-old leukemia patient on his way to receive chemotherapy was forced to wait in his car for three hours with no heating as snowfall caused more traffic chaos.
Kind-hearted Twitter users were quick to help Mozie Mafi after his daughter Soraya put out a distress call on the social media site today.
Mr Mafi, whose condition makes him susceptible to illness, was making the ten minute journey to the Royal Oldham hospital with his wife Helena in -5C condition.
Miss Mafi took to Twitter to call for help, writing: ‘My Mum and Dad are stuck on the M66 in Bury. They were enroute to my Dad’s chemo for the day and their heating has broken so are in -5°C condition. He has very little immunity due to his type of cancer. Any advice? Any fellow drivers able to offer any help? Thanks!’
Social media users were quick to help 67-year-old cancer patient Mozie Mafi (right) after he became stuck in traffic with wife Helena (left) on the way to the Royal Oldham Hospital for treatment. His daughter Soraya put out a call for help on Twitter and hundreds responded
But when traffic ground to a halt the pair were unable to move as strong winds and snow battered the sides of the car.
In London and fearing for her father’s safety, Miss Mafi took to Twitter to call for help, writing: ‘My Mum and Dad are stuck on the M66 in Bury. They were enroute to my Dad’s chemo for the day and their heating has broken so are in -5°C condition. He has very little immunity due to his type of cancer. Any advice? Any fellow drivers able to offer any help? Thanks!’
Dozens of well-wishers responded sending kind messages and suggestions of help.
One local responder, Alfie Isherwood, offered to take hot water bottles, blankets and a flask to the stranded pair.
Thankfully, traffic began moving again and they were able to seek shelter and warmth in a nearby cafe.
Soraya thanked social media users for their support and advice once her parents had found shelter
Speaking to MailOnline, Soraya said: ‘The heater in the car is broken so it was very, very cold. I told them to sit in someone else’s car for warmth but the winds were so harsh they couldn’t even open the doors.
‘My father requires monthly chemotherapy treatments for the rest of his life and has very little immunity to bugs caused by the cold weather, I was so worried I had to ask Twitter if anyone was able to help him.
Mr Mafi, whose condition makes him susceptible to illness, was in his car making the ten minute journey to the Royal Oldham hospital with his wife Helena in -5C condition
‘Greater Manchester Police told us to contact emergency services and they then told us they were only responding to life and death emergencies. We were told to contact Highway Patrol who said they would clear the road within half an hour.
‘In the meantime, Macmillan cancer nurses at the Royal Oldham Hospital – who always do a brilliant job and have a wonderful relationship with our family – rang and told him not to come to the treatment because of snow, but it was already too late.’
Eventually Mr and Mrs Mafi were able to return home safely and daughter Soraya, an award winning opera singer, thanked social media users for their help.
Thankful for her father’s safety, she also urged those in similar situations to check ahead with hospitals before travelling.
She said: ‘Only leave the house if absolutely necessary. We need to all be responsible for our own health and safety as much as possible.
‘If you do need to travel check the route before, make sure your phone isfully charged, and keep blankets, a hot flask and food with you.’
Encouraging a community spirit among residents, she added: If there is a neighbour who might be vulnerable and struggling with the weather and you have to means to check in on them then please do!’