A tram driver in Bratislava has touched hearts after helping a Swedish tourist recover her lost wallet – and proving that simple kindness is alive and well.
Ronald, who says driving a tram is the fulfilment of his boyhood dream, was on his route to Petržalka on Thursday, 21 August, when a passenger knocked on his cabin window to hand him a wallet found on a seat. Inside were banknotes, ID, insurance and payment cards belonging to a woman named Ebba from Sweden.
“As soon as I opened it, I thought – how would a foreigner even reach our transport dispatcher? Could she manage in Slovak? How would she cancel her cards, replace her ID, sort out everything?” Ronald later wrote on Facebook.
By sheer luck, he spotted a packet from a Slovak SIM card tucked inside, complete with a local mobile number. He called it, and to his relief Ebba answered. She was in shock, overwhelmed with joy and repeated over and over that she had been incredibly lucky – unable to imagine the nightmare she would have faced if the wallet had not been found.
The pair agreed to meet at Farského tram stop, where Ronald told her to watch for tram number 7513. “At least remember the 13 – because it’s lucky,” he joked. When the tram pulled in, Ebba was waiting. Ronald handed over the wallet, and the tourist, close to tears, thanked him warmly before posing for a photo with her unexpected hero.
“Because humanity and simple kindness may be quieter than evil,” Ronald reflected, “but they’re still here. And they’re strong. Thank you to the unknown passenger who handed it in. And thank you too, Ebba – you made my day.”
