Accidental Hero Sophia's Emotional Reunion

Why these two will never forget each other

- Cloe Willetts

As Sophia Malthus lay on the ground of an Auckland horse stable, unable to move, young paramedic Sam Horn knelt beside her and held the aspiring jockey’s hand, calmly telling her his name.

“I can see your name because it says it on your badge,” a young Sophia replied, her humour the last response Sam expected from someone who had just fallen from a horse and couldn’t feel her legs.

Now, two years after the brunette beauty was rushed to Middlemore Hospital with a spinal cord injury, the St John Ambulance paramedic, 22, is about to make a surprise visit to Sophia’s Auckland home, with Woman’s Day in tow.

Nervously waiting outside in his work uniform, Sam tells us, “There aren’t many jobs I can remember all the details of, but Sophia’s I do. I remember how she was lying, how I introduced myself, how I reversed out the driveway and her morale. I’m looking forward to seeing her. It’s such a special moment.”

Indeed, when unsuspecting Sophia – who’s now a tetraplegic and uses a wheelchair – lays eyes on her young hero, her face lights up and the pair share a hug. Grinning but tearful, Sam says to her, “It’s pretty surreal to see how you’re going and it makes me feel super-privileged. Anyone should look up to you.”