A Minnesota man is being praised as a hero after putting his own life at risk to save nearly 20 children when their school bus driver suffered a medical emergency while driving.
Ebro Ahmed, 27, was outside a convenience store in St. Paul’s Dayton neighborhood on Monday when he noticed a school bus speeding by with its doors hanging open.
Sensing that something was seriously wrong, Ahmed looked into the bus and saw the driver apparently experiencing what appeared to be a seizure.
He immediately ran toward the moving vehicle, climbed aboard and pulled the emergency brake—stopping the bus just seconds before the situation could have become catastrophic.
Describing the frantic moments to ABC, Ahmed said, “I tried to put it in park, I threw it in reverse by accident, and then I ended up getting it in neutral, pulled the parking brake.”
His quick action brought the bus to a halt and helped shield the children inside from further danger.
Ahmed said he did not stop to think about the risk to his own safety as he confronted the emergency with the children still on board.
“I really felt like it was my duty,” he said.
Some children screamed while others stayed calm. Ahmed recalled tossing his phone and glasses to one of the girls and asking her to hold them so he could focus on stopping the bus.
Ebro Ahmed, 27, saw the bus traveling with its doors wide open before running aboard and activating the emergency brake.
The Minnesota man said he never hesitated to risk his life, telling reporters: “Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it.”
Ahmed said there was no possibility of simply walking away and waiting for someone else to respond.
“It’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it,” he said.
Security footage from the convenience store, Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco, captured Ahmed’s dramatic rush to the bus.
Inside, the scene was chaotic. Ahmed recalled that some of the children were screaming, while others remained composed as he worked to regain control.
“Some [kids] were screaming. Some [were] calm,” he said.
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He also credited two girls seated near the front of the bus for helping him manage the unexpected crisis.
Ahmed said he tossed his phone and glasses to one of the girls, asking her to hold them while he concentrated on the emergency.
“These two girls on the front really did help me a lot,” he recalled.
Despite the frightening circumstances, the 27-year-old managed to keep his composure, and he credits an unlikely source for helping him think clearly under pressure.
Rather than professional medical training, Ahmed pointed to the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy as something that had taught him useful lessons about responding to emergencies.
The series follows doctors as they navigate medical emergencies and high-pressure situations.
Ahmed said the show gave him useful ideas about how to respond when the unexpected happens.
‘[The show teaches] you about what to do in situations that you never could see yourself in,’ he said.
He added, ‘So it’s just something like, you know, some tips and tricks that you could use for the rest of your life.’
He also revealed how watching medical drama Grey’s Anatomy had taught him lessons he drew on during the terrifying ordeal
Saint Paul Public Schools confirmed to ABC News that a medical emergency had occurred aboard the bus and that paramedics responded to the scene.
Fortunately, no injuries were sustained.
The school district said the children were transferred to another bus before being sent home, ensuring they could continue their journey after the frightening incident.
School officials also took steps to support the youngsters in the aftermath, with counselors checking in with students on Tuesday to see how they were coping.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Ahmed for comment.
