A chance encounter in a car park may have saved a man’s life after a woman spotted a suspicious mole. Quick action led to a melanoma diagnosis and surgery.
A Life Saved in a Split Second
It was an ordinary day in Canterbury for 75-year-old Chris Long—until a brief moment changed everything. While returning to his car with his wife Brenda, something completely unexpected happened: a stranger pointed out a mole on his leg. That simple observation may have saved his life.
“Have You Had That Checked?”
A young woman approached Chris in the town centre car park. She was calm but direct: “Have you had that mole looked at?” Chris, unaware of the mark on his calf, was taken aback.
“I was in such shock,” he later recalled. “I didn’t even get her name.”
The woman, it turns out, worked in dermatology. Her trained eye caught something troubling. She didn’t hesitate to speak up—and that made all the difference.
From Casual Concern to Urgent Diagnosis
Heeding her advice, Chris booked a GP appointment. Within weeks, doctors confirmed what the woman had suspected: the mole was a melanoma.
Surgery followed quickly to remove the cancerous mole. Chris, a retired government worker and grandfather of five, couldn’t believe how narrowly he’d escaped a much worse outcome.
A Thank You That Took Facebook to Find
Still shaken but deeply grateful, Chris turned to social media to find his mystery helper. He shared his story in a local Facebook group, hoping someone would recognize her.
To his surprise, Limara Roberts, a 39-year-old healthcare assistant, replied. She had seen the post—and yes, she was the woman who had stopped him in the car park.
A Twist of Fate and a Timely Encounter
The two have since stayed in touch. Chris even sent flowers to her workplace as a heartfelt thank-you. “It’s surreal,” he said. “I usually wear trousers—not shorts—and Limara never usually parks in that lot. What are the chances?”
Both agree it was a twist of fate—one that came with life-changing consequences.
