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Manchester homeless man John lends boots to diner 'in need' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A diner who was turned away from a restaurant for wearing sandals had his evening saved by a homeless man who offered him his boots. | |
Akbar Badshah, from Bradford, drove "for an hour" to celebrate his wife's birthday at Fazenda's in Manchester but was told he needed different footwear. | |
On hearing that, rough sleeper John said he would be "happy" to help and lend him his boots. | |
Mr Badshah now intends thank John with a meal at the restaurant. | |
Mr Badshah, who was also wanting to break his Ramadan fast, told BBC Radio 5 live: "The [staff] said, 'unfortunately we have to turn you away - do you have any spare shoes?' | |
"I said, 'I don't, I've driven an hour to get here, I'm starving, I've not eaten all day.'" | "I said, 'I don't, I've driven an hour to get here, I'm starving, I've not eaten all day.'" |
He and his wife Rozmin - who had previously suggested her husband should wear shoes - left the restaurant and later struck up a conversation with John, who had recently received a new pair of boots from an outreach shelter. | |
"We had a little chat and I just asked John, 'What shoe size are you?'," Mr Badshah said. | |
"He said, 'I'm a 14,' and I said, 'I'm a size 9, I'm in a bit of predicament... can I borrow your shoes?' | "He said, 'I'm a 14,' and I said, 'I'm a size 9, I'm in a bit of predicament... can I borrow your shoes?' |
"He goes, 'Yes certainly, I'll be happy to lend you my shoes.'" | "He goes, 'Yes certainly, I'll be happy to lend you my shoes.'" |
The couple went on to enjoy their meal as planned, then returned the boots to John, who told Mr Badshah he had just wanted "to help another human being out". | |
Mr Badshah said John only accepted a £10 note in thanks "on the third attempt". | |
Another man, who overheard the conversation between the pair, then gave John a £50 note. | |
Mr Badshah said he now hopes to return to the restaurant with John for a meal. | |