HERO: Manchester man sacrifices comfort to return doctor’s missing iPad
After spending his time and money returning an expensive device someone forgot in a public place, a Manchester man unintentionally jumped into the “race” for Man of the Year.
That’s the message Olumide Ofinran, “Mide” for short, would love to pass across.
Mide is not the Good Samaritan in question; Leon is. And the surgeon wants the Man of the Year 2016 awarded to Leon immediately.
“I flew to Czech Republic through Manchester Airport on Thursday (October 6),” Mide spoke exclusively with NewsroomNG.
He lives in Birmingham and works as a gynaecological cancer surgeon for the NHS in Leicester. The father of two is a busy man. He had a lot on his mind while trying to catch the 1pm flight.
“I had managed to beat the Birmingham traffic and couldn’t wait to catch the flight. I had to use the cash point at the airport. That was where I left my iPad Air 2 (128gb).”
Minutes from boarding the plane, Mide realised something was missing. He was already past security and would have missed the flight had he gone back to look for his iPad.
The device sells between £440 and £500.
Enters noble Leon, the hero of this story, who found the device. He said he would have returned it to airport officials had he not also been hurrying to catch a flight.
Leon later told Mide he refrained from going through the device as that would be impolite. But, to find the owner, Leon had to breach the surgeon’s privacy. And he did.
As he “invaded” the iPad, Mide’s family photos warmed Leon’s heart.
“The device was linked to Find My iPhone app but was not password-protected,” Mide said.
If activated, Find My iPhone app will locate a missing Apple device once connected online. Mide would have had no trouble locating his iPad had it contained a SIM card.
“Everyone in the house had access to the iPad because it’s a family device. We didn’t insert any SIM in it since no one personally used it. We use it to take pictures a lot. There are over 1000 photos on the iPad. Instagram was the online social media account connected to the device.”
Leon used the account to locate Mide.
“I was still in the Czech Republic when Leon contacted me on Saturday to say he found my iPad,” Mide said. “I never expected it.”
But the surgeon was yet to get the shocker of his life. Leon offered to personally deliver the device to Mide at Manchester Airport after learning the surgeon would return to the UK via the same route.
“I told him I would fly into the airport on Sunday but that my flight was scheduled to arrive 11pm. To my surprise, Leon arrived the airport by 10pm in case my flight came earlier.
“And although the flight arrived later than expected, Leon waited and paid for his own parking space as he did. Parking spaces are not cheap in this area.”
The two finally met and Mide said “I gave him the hug of his life he almost got choked. I was so happy.”
Mide said he offered Leon some form of reward which he turned down.
“He told me the joy he saw in my eyes at seeing my iPad again was enough reward for his charity,” the doctor said.
“I thought people like Leon were extinct and that’s why I’m sharing this story,” he said. “Leon deserves Man of the Year Award.”
Mide wrote about Leon on Instagram and Facebook calling him “a legend”.
“Leon told me that after seeing the photos, he couldn’t stop thinking about my family,” Mide said. “He said he hoped someone would treat him the say way if he forgot a belonging anywhere.”
