Although there is proof to contradict it, Ambrose Younge does not view himself as a hero.
Ambrose is employed as a bus driver for Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he derives immense pleasure from assisting others. On a wintry day in February, while the Twin Cities were being bombarded by snow and sleet from a winter storm, Ambrose had an opportunity to assist someone who was genuinely in need.
As Ambrose was completing his route and reversing his bus, he noticed something that unsettled him. He observed a young boy, who Ambrose believed to be between the ages of 4 and 6, donning a school backpack, standing alone on the snowy pavement.
Ambrose’s intuition sprang into action immediately. He was aware that in-person schooling had been called off that day owing to the inclement weather, and he couldn’t fathom why a child would be all alone in a snowstorm. When he observed the child trying to get inside a vehicle and subsequently stumbling on the street when the vehicle drove away, he realized that the boy required his assistance.
“As a bus operator, it’s my job to take care of people,” said Ambrose. “Here’s a kid in need — I need to get him someplace safe and warm.”
“I could tell the child was very anxious,” Ambrose recalled. “He was non-verbal and difficult to communicate with, but I kept an eye on him and kept talking to him.”
Ambrose ensured the child’s safety on his bus and contacted his supervisor at the Transit Control Center. They searched for missing child reports in the vicinity, and they discovered one: a 9-year-old autistic boy had gone missing from his house roughly 15 blocks away, in north Minneapolis.
Thanks to Ambrose’s efforts, the child was reunited with his family, who were extremely appreciative of the help provided. Despite Metro Transit sharing the story on the internet, Ambrose is hesitant to accept the “hero” moniker.
“I consider myself a dad because that’s what I would hope someone would do for my child,” he said.
“I guess we’re guardians of the city… not the galaxy, just the city!” he explained with a smile.
On Feb. 22, Ambrose noticed a young child with a backpack standing outside in the cold on a snow day when classes were canceled. “Here’s a kid in need – I need to get him someplace safe and warm." Read the full story about saving the lost child at https://t.co/TjcSWDIN8t pic.twitter.com/uJjWkney0c
— Metro Transit (@MetroTransitMN) March 10, 2023
The title “Guardians of the city!” seems fitting for Ambrose in this scenario, and we appreciate his attentiveness in aiding the child to return home safely.