2 Good Samaritans Go Viral for Handing Out Water and Snacks to Stranded Drivers During Traffic Standstill

Two strangers stuck in traffic on a closed stretch of road in southern England are drawing praise after a simple act of kindness sparked a viral wave of community spirit.

A video first shared on the Chichester Observer’s Facebook page and later reported by the Sussex Express has been viewed more than 938,000 times and received over 4,200 likes. The clip shows a man walking along the A27 near Chichester, handing bottles of water and packets of chips to drivers who had been stranded for hours.

According to the Sussex Express, National Highways said the A27 was closed in both directions early Monday morning on Jan. 26 after police were called to a medical incident shortly before 5 a.m. Traffic remained gridlocked for more than three hours while emergency services worked at the scene.

As delays dragged on and tensions rose, the video captured a moment that resonated well beyond the roadway. In the clip, Ollie Pulleyblank is seen weaving between stationary cars, offering food and drinks to people who had been stuck since early morning.

Pulleyblank later commented under the viral post to credit someone else for making it possible. “Big shoutout to the lady that dropped the crisps and waters off for everyone down the road,” he wrote. “I was purely the delivery man.”

That woman was later identified as Zara Best from Hambrook, the Sussex Express reported. Her mother, Liz Donovan, explained in a comment that her daughter had “seen moms and children out of their cars” and “wanted to help in some way.”

Best also shared what prompted her to step in. She said she was walking her dogs when she noticed traffic at a standstill. Looking down from a bridge, she realized just how long drivers had been waiting.

One moment especially stayed with her. “I saw a mom and her baby out of their car,” Best said. “I really felt for them.”

Living close to a local shop, Best decided to act. She said she bought water and chips and returned to a gate where she told people to help themselves and pass supplies along—“especially towards the mom and her baby down the road.”

Pulleyblank, a steel erector heading to work in London, then helped distribute the items along the line of cars. “She’s the one that did it, really,” he told the Sussex Express. “I was purely just the one delivering them.”

He said he had been stuck for around four hours and was trying to keep spirits up during a tough morning. “Everyone was very thankful for it, that’s for sure,” he said, adding that the reaction to the video had been “absolutely crazy.”

Best said she hopes the moment encourages others to look out for people around them. “It doesn’t have to be much,” she said, explaining that even small gestures can make a big difference—especially when people are having a difficult day.

Pulleyblank also thanked the emergency crews who responded and said he hopes the person involved in the medical incident makes a full recovery.