‘Local legend’: Asda Antrim porter Tony Burns praised for helping stranded shoppers

Asda Antrim trolley porter, Tony Burns

Customers at Asda Antrim say they are “in safe hands” thanks to porter Tony Burns, whose quick thinking and kindness have earned him a reputation as a car park hero.

The father of seven, who has worked at the store for almost a decade, has helped a string of customers in need — from changing tyres to rescuing a baby accidentally locked in a car.

Tony, described by colleagues as someone who always “goes the extra mile”, has become a familiar reassuring presence in the car park, where he is often spotted assisting motorists in difficulty.

Over recent months he has stepped in multiple times to solve unexpected emergencies. In one incident, he heard what he described as “this weird noise in the car park” and saw two women driving with “the car’s tyre hanging off the wheel”.

“I went over to see if they needed some help,” Tony said.

“Luckily, they had a spare tyre so I grabbed a jack and fitted the spare for them so they could get back on the road.

“I’m no mechanic, but I can help people out of situations where they’d be stranded in the car park. I rang the local tyre shop behind Asda, and they said they’d be able to look over the rest of the car to make sure there was no further damage. The ladies were back in the shop 10 minutes later with a fixed car, trying to give me money for helping them!”

But Tony insisted he never helps for reward. “No way,” he said. “I don’t do nice things for a reward or recognition, I would hate to see anyone stuck with no one to help them. It’s just the right thing to do.”

Tony hard at work at Asda Antrim

On another occasion, an elderly couple approached him when their car refused to start. Tony explained:

“It happens quite often, as I’m usually in the car park and see a lot of broken-down cars. An elderly couple couldn’t get their car to start, so they asked me for help and I could see the lights flickering on, but the car just wouldn’t turn over.

“Unfortunately, no one had any jump leads, so I grabbed one of my colleagues and we were able to push the car to a start. The couple were able to get home safely without having to call out for breakdown cover. They were happy as Larry!”

Perhaps the most dramatic moment came when a mother’s car automatically locked with her baby and keys inside. As a father and proud granda, Tony said he reacted instantly.

“I got a phone call from security about a child trapped in a car. I rushed out and started trying to get into the car. Another customer in the car park saw what I was doing and came over to help. He was a dad too, and we both came together to help in a time of crisis.

“The mum was clearly panicked, but she was great keeping her wee one occupied, playing with her through the window. The little girl was laughing and giggling away while we were trying to pop the window out on the other side!

“Without any hesitation, she told us to break the window if we needed to. We managed to get through the front window and unlocked all the doors, then mum was able to safely lift her daughter out of the car.

“I stayed with them to make sure they were both okay. Thankfully, baby girl was still smiling away and none the wiser. The mum was very grateful, but I was just doing the right thing - if I see someone in trouble, I want to help.”

With a decade of service and countless stories of small acts of heroism, Tony has become a trusted and much-loved figure in Antrim. For many shoppers, knowing he is there offers added peace of mind during their weekly shop.