Bus driver diverts route 79X bus to hospital for baby having seizure

A Citybus driver on the 79X route to Queen’s Hill made an emergency detour to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital last Friday night after a baby on board suffered a sudden seizure, earning widespread praise online.

A passenger shared on social media that while travelling on the 79X bus towards Queen’s Hill, the driver unexpectedly turned off the usual route and headed into Tai Po. The poster initially thought it was a mistake but soon learned the reason: a baby on board had started convulsing.

To get the infant medical help as quickly as possible, the driver decided to divert the entire bus to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po, where the affected passengers alighted for treatment before the bus resumed its journey.

The original post expressed hope that the baby would be okay and commended the driver’s kindness.

The story sparked strong support online. Many netizens praised the driver’s quick thinking and compassion, noting that finding an ambulance on the highway would have been difficult.

Others highlighted the understanding shown by fellow passengers, who remained calm and cooperative without complaint.

Several urged people to write to Citybus in support, and the original poster confirmed they had already done so.

Some expressed concern that the driver might face complaints or disciplinary action for deviating from the route. A few questioned whether calling an ambulance would have been faster, given the bus’s size.

Local residents in Tai Po also noticed the unusual detour and wondered about the bus entering areas like Fu Heng.

Citybus told media that at around 10pm on Friday, while the route 79X bus was travelling on the Tolo Highway, a passenger informed the driver that a child was unwell.

Judging the situation urgent, the driver diverted to Nethersole Hospital to let the passengers disembark for medical attention, then continued the journey.

The company is looking into the full details and thanked other passengers for their understanding.