Police help double amputee stranded in bitter cold by malfunctioning wheelchair

CANTON, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - Two police officers in Ohio helped a man with a malfunctioning wheelchair get to his bus stop when he got stuck in snowy conditions.

The man, who is a double amputee, had issues navigating due to slush and ice locking up his wheelchair features Monday in the middle of downtown Canton, WOIO reports.

He ended up stranded on the side of the road, his electric wheelchair trapped by the snow, as people walked and drove past him.

Then, two officers with the Canton Police Department saw the man struggling in the bitter cold temperatures and came to his aid.

The officers freed the man’s wheelchair then took turns pushing it to the bus stop when it stopped working once again. They also gave the man gloves and handwarmers, according to video from the police department.

Once at the stop, the officers helped to hoist the man onto his bus, making sure he got where he was going, safe and warm.

The story is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the elderly and disabled, especially during cold snaps. This winter alone, Cuyahoga County has seen at least five deaths due to extreme cold, according to the medical examiner.

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