Trucker alive because of two good Samaritans

After a trucker was passing through Manitoba, he had a medical emergency and thankfully two Samaritans stopped to help.

John Sparks is a long-haul trucker who works throughout Canada and the US. He lives in Saskatchewan.

On Thursday, April 15, Sparks was travelling near Piney, Man. an hour and a half southeast from Winnipeg near the U.S.A border when he had a medical emergency. 

"He was in medical distress and unable to continue driving. He got out of his semi to try to flag down some help and was found lying outside of his truck," says one of Sparks's sisters, Roberta.

A couple was passing by when they came across the scene and stopped to make sure everything was alright.

"The good Samaritans who stopped, along with a nearby farmer, called 911, and kept him comfortable. They stayed with him until the ambulance came."

This act of kindness may have very well saved Sparks's life. 

"John was diagnosed with pancreatitis at the hospital and he was in serious condition. By Friday, his kidneys were starting to shut down and he was transferred to HSC-MICU in Winnipeg. He was in severe pain."

Thankfully, over the past week and a half, Sparks is slowly improving, according to his sister, although he remains in Manitoba in the ICU.

"It has been a scary/stressful time for him and his family, for him to be alone and his wife to feel helpless and only wants to be with him," says Roberta. Sparks' wife is unable to be with him at this time in the hospital due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

The family wanted to thank the couple who helped out Sparks but initially didn't know who they were or how to find them.

"Through the power of social media, I had put out a post on Facebook asking for the good couple who stopped to come forward as we did not know who they were. Within 12 hours we managed to find & connect with them and were able to thank them for saving his life."

The couple simply did what they thought was right and prefer to stay anonymous at this time.

"They took a risk by stopping to help someone they didn't know, not knowing what could happen as a result. The result was they saved his life and kept John safe till medical help arrived. His family will be eternally grateful," says the trucker's sister.

With the unknown time it will be until Sparks can get back to work, the family started a Go Fund Me page to help with the medical expenses.