When one friend pulled out of a holiday at the last minute, his resourceful pals decided not to let his ticket go to waste – so apparently found a stranger with the same name.
Ross Smith, a London-based comedian, claims he was asked over Facebook whether he’d like to join a group of strangers on a trip to Hamburg this bank holiday weekend.
He agreed and the unlikely bunch are believed to now be in the German city.
Ross Smith (pictured), a London-based comedian, claims he was asked over Facebook whether he’d like to join a group of strangers on a trip to Hamburg this bank holiday weekend
The 28-year-old, of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, posted the Facebook message on Twitter with the caption: ‘So this is happening. I’m taking another Ross Smith’s holiday place with a group of Lads I don’t know.
‘Will I be trafficked? Will I meet new best friends? Will I come back with both kidneys? Follow the saga at #iamrosssmith’
Now believed to be on holiday with the strangers, Ross told MailOnline: ‘It’s insane. It isn’t something I’d normally do. But I put it out on Facebook and people unanimously said I should go for it.
‘And I thought it’s an adventure and could give me good material for my comedy sketches so I thought “why not?”
‘But I haven’t been on a lads holiday since 2008 so I am definitely outside my comfort zone.’
Ross claims Johnny Gardner messaged him earlier in the month and wrote: ‘Hey Ross, me and a couple of mates are in that predicament in which we have a mate called Ross Smith.
‘We booked him a trip to Hamburg 30th march – 1st April, but he’s an ungrateful c*** and can’t make it.’
He added: ‘If you fancy a free trip, you are more than welcome to take his flight ticket and bed in the apartment. Appreciate it’s short notice and of course not having any idea who we are…’
Ross claims Johnny Gardner (right) messaged him and wrote: ‘Hey Ross, me and a couple of mates are in that predicament in which we have a mate called Ross Smith…’
After accepting the offer and handing over his passport details, Ross kept his Twitter followers up to date with his planning for the impromptu trip, using the hashtag #iamrosssmith.
But the up-and-coming comedian was obviously nervous and posted: ‘Seven days before I go. I haven’t heard from them in two days. I hope to god they’re not finding another Ross Smith.’
He told the MailOnline: ‘It was nerve-wracking when I met them at 6am at Stansted airport in the Wetherspoons.
The comedian tweeted a picture two pints of Guinness, a fruit cider and a light beer and asked his followers: ‘guess which one’s mine?’
‘But there was also relief that they were real and that I hadn’t been scammed. I’m a very sceptical person.’
The comedian added that the group, made up of himself, Johnny, Jan and Dorian, were still ‘feeling each other out, like that first bit of a blind date’.
Not everyone was as excited for the trip however, as he wrote on Twitter: ‘Just got off the phone with mother. She is not happy.’
He added: ‘My mum told me it could be a scam and that I don’t know these people.’
Ross has since updated social media users with a snap of his ‘accommodation’ – which he adds is ‘surprisingly nice’ apart from the fact he will have to ‘sleep in a child’s bed’.
Ross posted a picture of the group of strangers he was apparently going on the impromptu trip with
Ross has since updated social media users with a snap of his ‘accommodation’ – which he adds is ‘surprisingly nice’ apart from the fact he will have to ‘sleep in a child’s bed’