Hamilton man gifted electric wheelchair after having his stolen

CHCH News first reported over the weekend that someone stole the motorized wheelchair Steve Rodrigues needs to get around. Things took an unexpected turn Monday morning.

READ MORE: Hamilton man struggles after electric wheelchair stolen

Walking is painful and difficult for 52-year-old Rodrigues. He broke his pelvis in a construction accident eight years ago, can’t work, and relies on a motorized wheelchair. Just before Christmas, someone stole his wheelchair.

Shortly after our story aired on Saturday things changed, CHCH viewer Jamie Hoadley saw the story on the news. He manages a retirement home in St. Catharines and says people often leave things behind, sometimes perfectly good motorized wheelchairs. Relatives say ‘give it to someone who needs it.’

Hoadley charged up a wheelchair someone had left behind and drove it from St. Catharines to Steve in Hamilton.

“Just so excited about getting my legs back, getting my feet back,” Rodrigues said.

“It broke my heart to think that somebody would steal something like that…” Hoadley said.

Rodrigues couldn’t be more grateful, “thank you so much for CHCH TV for taking my story for putting it on air, thank you Al Sweeney for arranging this new chair coming from St. Catharines, I thank Jamie again for bringing it, delivering it, like I said its prayers answered.”

Within minutes of getting his new wheelchair, Rodrigues was heading off down the street on his regular routine. Hamilton police are investigating the theft of Rodrigues’ wheelchair. They’re hoping for information from surveillance video in the area where the theft occurred.