Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Kindhearted lorry drivers and netizens have come together online to raise over 45,000 GBP to help this stranded trucker whose vehicle broke down thousands of miles from home.

Iranian lorry driver Fardin Kazemi’s 1980s American International 9670 lorry broke down close to the city of Czestochowa, in southern Poland.

Local media report neither the engine and battery were functioning properly and Kazemi was left stranded thousands of miles from his native Iran.

The driver had delivered raisins to Poland and was en route to pick up products in the Czech Republic to take back to Iran when his lorry broke down.

Locals heard about the case and other drivers reportedly came to give him food and provide him with shelter.

A Facebook page was then set up to try to raise 99,000 PLN (19,843 GBP) to help get Kazemi back to his native Iran.

Fellow lorry drivers and other kindhearted netizens quickly took to the page and over 228,000 PLN (45,691 GBP) has now been raised to help Kazemi buy a new lorry.

The Facebook page says that the type of lorry which is bought will depend on the amount raised and Kazemi will be given the vehicle to drive back home and continue working there.

Only vehicles less than three years old can be imported into Iran under Iranian law, so the fundraisers are reportedly planning to buy a secondhand 2017 DAF XF 106 tractor unit to tow Kazemi’s trailer back to Iran.

Kazemi told reporters that Poles are “wonderful people, and it is difficult for me to believe their help”.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.