A woman who was sexually harassed on a bus has tracked down the man who confronted her attacker so she could personally thank him for his help.
Last week, PhD student Kaitlyn Regehr was on the 207 bus in London when she was groped by a stranger.
"It was 10:30 at night, it wasn’t particularly late. I was on the 207 [bus] going through Shepherd’s Bush, when a guy copped my bum,” she told BuzzFeed News. “I didn’t say anything, I just felt uncomfortable and moved out the way.
"I know that sounds ridiculous, [but] I did what most women would do, just move away, and hope that he doesn’t get off the bus and follow you."
But unbeknown to the King's College, London student a "tall, dark and dapper" man had witness the incident and stepped in the pull the attacker up on his actions.
Shortly after the incident, which happened at around 10.30pm, Regehr posted a message on Facebook hoping to track down her Good Samaritan.
"To the man on the 207 buss towards Acton last night (the tall, dark, and dapper one with the beard)," she wrote.
"Thank you for saying something when that man grabbed me. Thank you for insisting that it was not acceptable. Most of all, thank you for asking him about the women in his life, his mother, his sister... You said, "She could be your sister. She is someone's sister", and in doing so you made me a person. You made us a community.
"I thank you not just because you stood up for me, or because you made me feel safe, but because on your transit home - in this big, potentially anonymous city - you humanised assault. You didn't turn away. You took a stand. You said something.
"Because you were right. I am someone's sister. We all are. And us kids should all stand up for each other...
"Please, let's all endeavour to "say something", please share, and please help me find this awesome dude so I can buy him a pint!"
After more than 86,000 shares, Regehr finally tracked down Firat Ozcelik, and met up with him to thank him face to face.
The 30-year-old thanked Firat and the Metropolitan Police, writing in a second Facebook post: "Last week I made a post in order to find a stranger who stood up for me on a bus. Last night, I got to meet and thank this Good Samaritan and all round awesome dude - Firat!
"The experience surrounding last weeks' post has been a surprising and powerful one. I am grateful to all who helped make this meeting happen; as well as to the metropolitan police, who have been really supportive; most of all, I am grateful the many who shared their own stories. In this way, the post went far beyond one person speaking out for another in the microcosm of a 207 bus towards Acton. It became an international and intersectional discussion. For that, Firat and I agreed, we are both very thankful.
"Here's to following Firat's lead. Here's to taking stands and saying something - on 207 buses and beyond."
Amen to that.
See Also:
Useful helplines and websites:
Victim Support - Visitvictimsupport.org.uk or call 0808 168 9111
Sexual Abuse Referral Centres - Find a SARC
Rape Crisis - Visit rapecrisis.org.uk or call 0808 802 9999
The Rape and Abuse Line - Visit rapeandabuseline.co.uk or call 0808 800 0123 (answered by women) or 0808 800 0122 (answered by men).