The author of the viral Chester Zoo deflated tyre note said he has been ‘staggered’ by the reaction his ‘simple’ act of kindness has had.
Guest experience assistant Paul Weaver, who works on the zoo’s car park team, has down-played his good deed, which has warmed countless hearts after it was shared on social media.
After noticing a tyre on a visitor’s car was looking a little flat, he went the extra mile to ensure their safe onward journey by pumping it up.
The car’s owner Fiona Gray, from Runcorn, found the note on her windshield when she returned to her car after a trip to the zoo on Sunday.
The note, signed by Car Park Team, read: “Hi, we noticed that your rear passenger side tyre was low on air (slow puncture maybe!).
“We have blown it up to 30 PSI at 3.45 so hope that gets you home OK.”
Ms Gray posted a photo of the note on the Chester Zoo Facebook page, saying it had made her smile and that she would like to thank whoever was responsible.
The post has received more than 100,000 likes and thousands of comments.
The grandad-of-four lives in Bromborough, Wirral, with his wife Lorraine.
“It was just a simple thing that needed doing and it is something that we have done many times before,” he said.
“It is bizarre to me that something like this has gone viral.
“Whoever’s car it was, they needed to know that the tyre was possibly damaged in some way.”
And as for why it’s been so well-received, Paul proffered this explanation: “We hear so much bad news and we all feel so helpless, so perhaps little things like this make you feel that it’s not so bad after all.”
Newfound fame
Paul’s two children are ‘absolutely amazed’ by their dad’s newfound fame.
His daughter Ali Weaver got in touch with the Chronicle to say she was not surprised in the slightest by the gesture.
“He is a truly wonderful person and it’s funny because so many people who know him have commented on my Facebook page to say ‘that must have been your dad’ as they all know him to be that kind of person who will always put himself out there to help others.”
Paul has worked at the zoo since February this year and says it is a ‘lovely experience’.
“I know that anyone on the car park staff and anyone at the zoo would have done the same,” he added.
Although he admitted he’s been receiving some good-natured ‘stick’ from colleagues, with one asking him to sort his tyre out.
