Community repays the Sikh Samaritan

The Sikh who removed turban to save boy gets surprise gift from TV station

After 22-year-old Harman Singh broke his religious protocol by removing his turban to cradle a boy hit by a car in New Zealand, he received a pleasant surprise as TV station One News, along with Big Save Furniture, gifted Harman with a lounge set, complete with a sofa, coffee table and a bed for his selfless act.

Harman was overwhelmed with joy and became teary-eyed as he saw furniture being moved to his house. "My dad passed away last year. If he would've seen my right now, he would've been proud of me," Harman said. "This is the biggest surprise of my life," he added.

Even when he was reminded that he was famous now, Harman said, "No, I'm not famous. Our religion is famous," he said. Harman had gained worldwide praise after he did not hesitate to break religious protocol by removing his turban to help an injured child bleeding profusely after an accident in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland.

The boy was going to school with his sister when the accident happened. The accident happened outside his house in Takanini, South Auckland on May 15. Singh has since received hundreds of Facebook messages praising him from the US, Europe and India. His story has been shared tens of thousands of times on social media. Singh, 22, from India, is in Auckland studying a business course.

His act was considered a hugely significant because it breaks strict religious protocol. He was overwhelmed at the number of messages of support from around the globe. "Total strangers are asking to be friends on Facebook and thousands of people have said 'Well done'. I was only doing what I had to and trying to be a decent member of the community."