American journalist Andrew Kimmel on Wednesday, January 1, lauded the successful efforts of a Kenyan woman who rescued him from a Mexican prison and later assisted him to get back to his country.
Through a long thread on Twitter, Kimmel, who is the founder of AuraNexus Media and former Head of live video at BuzzFeed News. described how he ended up in a cell in Cabo, Mexico after his credit card failed while trying to foot a bill he claimed to have been inflated at a local bar.
"At the last bar of the evening, I was presented with a bill for over $300 (approximately Ksh30,000). I had two beers. The bar manager said I needed to pay or he’d call the police. I give him my credit card and it was declined due to fraud protection, which I found out today as my phone had died earlier," he narrates.
Kimmel narrates how the bar manager forced him to withdraw cash from a nearby ATM which he refused to, instead opting to have the police called on him whom he thought would understand the maltreatment.
"Of course the police were working with the bar manager in the tourist swindle, so the police handcuff me as the bar manager steals my debit card and passport. I’m put into a police car and sit up front with two officers. We actually got along quite well as I applauded their con," his narration goes.
Without anyone to help him get out on bail in a foreign country, Kimmel was locked together with a fellow tourist hailing from the United Kingdom who was later released after his wife paid bail for him leaving Kimmel without any hopes of getting out in good time to catch his flight.
Hours later, the journalist was surprised when authorities knocked at him indicating that he was free after a woman of Kenyan origin paid the bail to secure his release.
“Your friend [paid] bail,” remarked an officer as quoted by Kimmel.
With no knowledge of who would have come in handy, Kimmel was led out of the facility.
“I was given my belongings and shoved outside where a woman from Kenya was waiting for me,” remarked Kimmel.
The mystery Kenyan woman indicated that she had as well been arrested after a cab driver claimed that she did not pay for the trip.
“I heard what happened when you came in, so I figured you could use some help,” remarked the woman as quoted by Kimmel.
Like him, the woman had overstayed at the police cell leading to her missing an already booked flight that left at half past 8 a.m.
The Kenyan woman became of much help to Kimmel especially after his realisation that he had lost his travel documents and his credit card had also failed.
“If you don’t make your flight, you can stay with me at my Airbnb,” remarked the Kenyan good Samaritan.
After a struggle to attain all necessary documentations, Kimmel finally made it to the US after the Kenyan woman assisted him with money to pay for all the necessary services.
The journalist only identified the lady as Megan.
After getting to the United States, Kimmel confirmed that he consulted with Megan on the full amounts he owed her where he paid them in full
