Coronavirus: Paramedic's neighbours give round of applause as she leaves home for night shift
A young paramedic was greeted by a round of applause from her neighbours when she left home on Thursday to work a night shift.
In a short film posted on Facebook, Tayla Porter, 22, is seen leaving her Basingstoke home for her shift at Basingstoke and North Hampshire hospital.
As she leaves the front door and makes her way to the car, Ms Porter’s entire street is seen and heard clapping loudly and cheering her on.
The emergency care assistant is visibly overwhelmed with emotion at the sight of her neighbours.
There was also a homemade cake and a packet of Cadbury’s Miniature Heroes chocolates waiting for Ms Porter on the top of her car.
Ms Porter’s mother, Ali, shared a video of the event on Facebook.
“I just love where we live,” she wrote.
“Everyone in our street united to wave Tayla off on her paramedic shift tonight just the boost she needed.
“The Heroes chocolates and homemade cake were a lovely touch too.”
Ali added that the applause could be heard all the way up their road.
The video has been viewed more than 1.6 million times, while Ali’s post has garnered more than 64,000 shares and thousands of comments.
“Wow. That made me cry!” wrote one person. “Great job, Tayla. My son is a paramedic too. So proud.”
Ms Porter’s father, Phil, also commented, writing: “Very proud of my daughter and truly lost for words for my neighbours in Queens Road and ours coming out to show their appreciation of the great effort of the NHS and their dedicated staff.”
The street-wide clap for Ms Porter comes after the national “Clap for our Carers” event saw people around the country stand outside their homes to applaud the UK’s healthcare workers who are fighting to save those with COVID-19.
Similar events have been held in Europe, with citizens on lockdown in France and Italy standing on their balconies to applauding medical staff.
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