Thief steals doctor's car as she stops to help elderly man knocked down by a bus

The 25-year-old newly qualified medic had pulled over in rush hour traffic after spotting the elderly man lying on the side of the road.

But as she provided emergency medical aid in an attempt to save his life a thief jumped into her car and drove off.

A doctor had her car stolen as she stopped to help a badly injured pedestrian on Eccles New Road, Manchester

Senior police chiefs reacted in horror and said the despicable theft was enough to shake most people's trust in human nature.

Superintendent Ian Palmer, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'My reaction was one of horror when I found out.

'The vehicle was taken in a despicable way.

'This lady's actions were heroic. Her stopping to offer assistance demonstrates the best of qualities of human nature.

'I would be quite confident to say that the person who took the car had absolute knowledge of what she was doing.

'I have not spoken to the doctor myself but I imagine how I would feel myself - utter disbelief. It would be something that would knock my trust in human nature to the very core.'

But despite the trauma, the doctor said she would do the same again.

In a statement, the medic, who did not want to be named, said: 'I am very disappointed at what has happened, but I would do the same again.'

The thief made off with the doctor's red Renault Clio, similar to this model

The incident happened in Salford - one of the UK's car crime hotspots - at around 4.50pm on Wednesday. A 74-year-old pensioner was hit by a single-decker bus on a road packed with rush hour traffic.

The doctor, who happened to be driving past at the time, saw the old man lying on the side of the road being tended to by other pedestrians.

She stopped her Renault Clio at the scene and got out to provide emergency assistance to the man, who had suffered serious head injuries.

But in her haste to help the doctor left her keys in the ignition and just minutes later a thief jumped into her car and made off.

Horrified residents living close to the scene of the accident were horrified by the theft.

Phyllis Reade, 63, said: 'It is a real sign of the times that things like this can happen.
'It shakes your faith in people to the very core.

'Almost nothing is beneath criminals these days and almost everything is an opportunity for them. It makes me sick.'

Arthur Ball, 52, a scaffolder, said: 'The thief is lucky he wasn't spotted because the outraged pedestrians may well have put him in hospital. I know I would.'

Greater Manchester Police urged the thief to look inside himself and hand back the car and turn himself in.

Mr Palmer said: 'To them I would say: 'Return the vehicle - hand yourself in and you will be treated fairly.''

He also made a personal guarantee to give the culprit help if the car was taken to tackle a drug problem.

I think it is up to us as the police and the community to make sure that we get the vehicle returned in full working condition.

Inspector John Kelly said: 'It is unthinkable why someone would take someone's car when they are just trying to help a man who has been seriously hurt.

'This woman's compassion has been totally taken advantage of by a pathetic
opportunistic thief, and we are determined to catch whoever was responsible.'

The injured man was rushed to hospital suffering from a serious head injury and he remained in intensive care last night in a critical condition.

Police are appealing for anyone who has seen the red Renault Clio - registration NY05 RZN - to contact them.

Although car crime in the region is down, residents in Greater Manchester, had 14,872 cars stolen last year, which represents six out of every thousand people. 

In Salford, there were 1,709 cars stolen or eight out of every thousand people.