A HEROIC bus driver who cared for an elderly woman after she fell ill on his service has been praised by the passenger’s family.

Paul Billam BEM was doing his rounds like any other day last Friday when 65-year-old Diana Denton boarded Globe’s 198 service.

While in Lundwood, Diana complained of feeling faint.

Paul, 63, jumped into action, pulling the bus over and calling the emergency services while caring for the passenger.

He told the Chronicle: “I was just driving along when a passenger came over to say a lady wasn’t feeling well.

“So I went to pull in at the next bus stop but as I was driving I could see her in the mirror - she went down like it was in slow motion.

“I went to check on her and called an ambulance.

“It feels like I’ve done someone a good deed - but it’s something any of the drivers would have done.”

Delays kept the ambulance from turning up quickly, so with the help of other passengers Paul assisted Diana in getting comfortable and drove the bus back to Barnsley Interchange where she met with her daughter, Kerry Harris, and waited for paramedics.

After a two-day stint in hospital, Diana is now back home and while Kerry admits the incident was scary, she feels much safer knowing people in the community were only too willing to help.

She told the Chronicle: “I’ve got to give them credit, the bus driver was absolutely amazing with her.

“He stayed with her for as long as possible - even after I got there he still stayed with us, and phoned his head office to let them know we were waiting for the ambulance.”