A British woman married the train driver who saved her life, and then she saved his, turning their chance encounter into a life-saving romance.
Charlotte Lay, 33, works as a nurse for the British National Health Service. In 2019, as she was preparing for her shift one summer afternoon, she realized things felt a bit off.
And so, she strayed off to a railway station near West Yorkshire, England, to put an end to her life once and for all.
According to the BBC, Charlotte has suffered from mental health issues since she was a teenager. Although her memory of that day is “blurry,” she recalls glimpses of a train approaching her on the tracks near Crossflatts station.
The train driver saw Charlotte on the tracks, stopped the train midway, got down to talk to her, and gently discouraged her from taking her life.
Dave Lay, the train driver, chatted with her for a good half an hour and informed the authorities about the situation. The local police along with mental health support workers, then cared for Charlotte.
A shocked Dave left the scene, knowing he had done a good deed, and thought the chapter was closed.
But fate had other plans, and that kind act would lead to a romance to remember for both of them.
Wanting to learn more about the kind stranger, Charlotte posted in a local Facebook group if anyone worked for Northern Rail, to thank the man who had saved her life.
A co-worker of Dave’s saw the post and shared his phone number with Charlotte. She immediately texted the number, and Dave replied by saying he was always available if she ever needed to talk.
They texted each other every day until they met two months later for a coffee date.
The duo fell in love and tied the knot in 2022 when Charlotte was 22 weeks pregnant with their first of three children.
If this was not surprising enough, here’s another twist in this second-chance love story.
In 2020, Dave was suffering from severe backache, and he blamed his past profession for the pain.
In a previous job, he had worked for over a decade in the strenuous profession of lifting and carrying stuff. However, Charlotte was firm and convinced him to see a doctor about his pain.
Reluctantly, he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Dave, now 47, believes that the only reason he is alive today is because of his wife’s timely insistence on seeing a doctor.
The couple told the BBC that they wish to inspire others with their emotional story and give a message that, “Life does get better. You just have to be here to see it.”
Both Dave and Charlotte saved each other’s lives through compassion and kindness. Sometimes, all one needs is a sympathetic listener to overcome even the lowest points in life.
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