AN NHS worker has praised “public heroes” for their help after his motorbike was stolen.

Ian Evans, from Brighton, had his bike taken last Thursday and was left facing a four-hour round trip to work using public transport.

But following an emotional appeal, the scientist at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath has been inundated with offers of support – and his bike has been found, although it is badly damaged.

The 54-year-old, who described the past few days as “humbling and emotional”, said: “I have been so overwhelmed by the response and this just shows how brilliant people are.

“There is a lot of talk about us being heroes – even though we don’t like that term as we are just doing our job – this shows the general public are heroes in the way they have come through.”

Ian, who lives near Saunders Park, Brighton, woke up last week to find the bike, which he had nicknamed Fugly, had been stolen.

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To make matters worse, the NHS healthcare scientist had recently lost two colleagues, one to Covid-19 and the other to cancer.

After an appeal to the public in a bid to trace the bike, offers of help began to pour in.

He said: “One person got in touch and offered me a lift to work – I thought that was a lovely touch.

“Then it was phenomenal, everyone kept saying, ‘you can have my bike, you can have my bike’.

“There have been 50 different offers of bikes from all over the country.

“I have been given an electric bike now – I have gone green.”

His stolen motorbike was discovered yesterday morning in Coldean by people who heard it, along with others, being ridden around the area.

The finder had heard about Ian’s emotional appeal the previous week.

The Triumph Sprint 955i in British Racing Green was found badly damaged and partially covered up

However, the offers of help have not stopped flooding in.

Ian said: “We have got a van and the bike was picked up last night and is now in a undisclosed location.

“It has got damage on it, but it might fixable.

“It’s a question of finding parts and South East Bikers Magazine are trying to source all the parts for it.”

Speaking yesterday he said: “It’s going to be my birthday tomorrow.

“I don’t normally celebrate my birthday, but perhaps I will today with a little smile.”

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund