'Good Samaritan' Sushil Mann who assisted Rishabh Pant after road accident to be honoured

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who suffered a horrific car crash in the early hours of Friday morning, was rescued by a local driver Sushil Mann. Reportedly, Sushil was driving on the other side of the road and witnessed the cricketer’s car crash.

Sushil showed great presence of mind and reached the other side of the road just in the nick of time after he saw that the 25-year-old’s car was about to catch fire. Sushil also mentioned that Pant's belongings were scattered on the road, which he and the bus conductor present with him at the scene picked and handed back to Pant later. 

"He (Rishabh Pant) gave us his mother's number. We called her but her phone was switched off. The ambulance arrived after 15 minutes and we got in him. He had also scattered his money on the road, which we picked up and handed them to him in his hands. I asked him if he was alone in the car. He said there is no one. His face was covered in blood and his clothes torn and his back was scratched. He was panicking and limping,” Sushil was quoted by Hindustan Times.

Sushil said he did not know about Pant’s identity since he does not follow cricket and it was the conductor who told him that he represents the Indian cricket team. Furthermore, he mentioned that no one came forward to help them to take Pant to the hospital and the calls made to the National Highway authorities went unanswered.

"We began to cry for help but no one came. I called the National Highway, no one answered. Then I ran up the police and the conductor called for an ambulance. We kept asking him is he fine. Offered him some water. After regrouping, he told us he is Rishabh Pant. I don't follow cricket so I didn't know who he was but my conductor then told me 'Sushil... he is an India cricketer'."

Meanwhile, in a recent development, Director General of Police Ashok Kumar has announced that Sushil as well as all other locales who assisted Pant following the mishap will be honoured and rewarded under the Good Samaritan scheme of the Ministry of Highways, Government of India. 

He said that the first one hour is very important for any road accident victim. It is very important to get the necessary treatment to the victim in that period. The Good Samaritan scheme has been implemented to encourage this behavior among the common people.