A Helston optician has been praised for going above and beyond to help an elderly stranger who was miles from home. 

Jumanah Akhtar was recently at Birmingham New Street railway station, having just completed her optician exams, when she saw a lady looking confused and struggling to get through the ticket barrier.

Jumanah, who has worked at Specsavers Helston for the past year, went to the woman’s aid and found that she was very unsure, so Jumanah ended up calling the lady’s daughter, who said that her mother was travelling alone and would have to make several changes on her route.

Jumanah was worried that the lady wouldn’t be able to reach her destination safely, so she volunteered to alter her own plans and accompany the woman.

Jumanah explained: “I offered to go with her because I was doing a similar journey, although I did change my route slightly to accommodate her and help.

“In the end, I helped her figure out some train cancellations, assisted her with her changes, got her to her destination and helped her carry her luggage.”

When Jumanah was eventually sure that the woman would get home safely, she made her own way back to Helston.

In the following weeks, she received some surprise gifts from the lady she had helped, who wanted to thank Jumanah for her selfless efforts to make sure she was able to reach her home.

To add to the good news, she heard that she had passed her exams and was a fully qualified optician, having spent three years at university and one year at Specsavers Helston store doing her pre-registration training.

Jumanah added: “I couldn’t believe it when the gifts arrived for me at the store. I got a bag of hand and body moisturizer, chocolates, and a card. It was such a kind thought by the lady and her family.

“I didn’t help her so that I would get anything in return. I just saw that she was a bit confused, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her struggling to get home. It might have been frightening for her and her family for her to do it on her own.

“I was also ecstatic to find out I’d passed my exams. I have worked hard for a few years now and it’s thrilling to now be able to practice as a qualified optician.”

Daniel Stimpson, retail director at Specsavers Helston, was full of praise for Jumanah when he heard about her Good Samaritan kindness. He said: “When Jumanah told us of her experience in Birmingham, we were very proud of her but at the same time we weren’t surprised.

“She’s a really thoughtful and caring person who is very popular with our customers. She frequently goes above and beyond for them whenever she can.

“It’s been quite an eventful few weeks for her, with the gifts suddenly arriving and to find out she’d passed her exams.

“For Jumanah to qualify is wonderful for her, but she deserves it because she has worked very hard this past year.

“Having now qualified, Jumanah isn’t resting on her laurels. She’s now moving on to study for the extra qualifications needed so she can refer patients for minor eye conditions and cataracts.

“When she gains those qualifications, Jumanah will be accredited to help patients with minor eye conditions in the store rather than them having to venture to the hospital or GP. This is a scheme Specsavers have been working with for years.

“Jumanah has also said she has a real interest in how diabetes affects the eyes and may look into this field in the future. Whatever she does with her career, we know she’ll be a great success.”