EastEnders fans claim bus scene mirrors real life in the East End nearly two years after Londoners came together to lift a double-decker off an injured father-of-two
Viewers pointed out the similarities to an amazing story about local heroes who helped lift a bus
EASTENDERS fans claim the show mirrored real life events in the East End tonight after it showed a group of local heroes lifting a double-decker bus off injured Martin Fowler.
Some fans suggested it would be impossible for Albert Square residents to heave the heavy vehicle off Martin, but many pointed out a similar incident happened in Walthamstow two years ago.
Doting dad Martin was left trapped under the wreckage after the shocking bus crash in yesterday's episode.
In tonight's show, Albert Square residents gathered together to lift the huge vehicle off Martin so he could be pulled free.
Viewers of the show have now pointed out the scene was eerily similar to a real traffic accident in east London in 2015.
A group of real Londoners came together to free a trapped unicyclist who had been pinned under a bus.
Related stories
Around 100 passers-by rushed to help after dad-of-two Antony Shields was struck by a double-decker in Walthamstow and trapped underneath.
They managed to lift the front of the 12-tonne vehicle up to free the stricken unicyclist, who was then rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Speaking after the incident, Antony's flatmate Mohamad Rodwan told the : "The top half of his body is okay but the lower half isn’t so good.
"I was expecting to see half a man but he was in good spirits. He is just grateful to be here and lucky to be alive."
Witness Kyra Sam had previously told the publication: "I'm really amazed at the strength of Walthamstow - no one hesitated to push the bus off, I was in shock.
"Everyone really came together to help - it was really nice to see that in the face of something so awful."
Sami Ullah, owner of Directors Cut café, which is opposite the crash scene, said he was "amazed" by the group effort to save Antony.
Describing the moments after the accident, he said: "I was standing at the till and heard a loud noise. It was a big bang – we thought it was a shotgun or something.
"All of a sudden we saw people leaving their chairs at Turtle Bay and Pizza Express and running towards the road. We saw people actually coming out of the bus as well. Everybody was shouting and screaming.
"Then all of the people tried to somehow move the bus a little bit.
"There were so many people gathered there. There must have been about 50 to 100.
"They somehow managed to pull the bus away a bit. We were amazed – it was a heavy bus, a double decker. Police were here straightaway and they took over."
The soap showed character including Mick Carter and Max Branning helping lift the bus from Martin so he could be pulled free.
Many viewers though the feat would be impossible for a group of Londoners, posting on social media about it.
One wrote: "On another note, how can danny dyer, ben mitchell and about 10 others lift up a bus, eastenders has just made history", while another added: "Anyone just watch Eastenders there hahaha as if Danny Dyer and 7 old biddies just lifted up a double decker bus."
A third agreed writing: "Eastenders doesn't alf have me buzzing, danny dyer and a few pensioners from the square deadlifting a bus".
Some viewers even researched how much a double decker bus weighs to prove their point.
One wrote: "Just googled the weight of a double decker bus... 12.65 TONNES... Danny Dyer & a couple of old ladies just deadlifted that #eastenders".
However they were reminded by other viewers of the east London incident, and they took to Twitter to point out the connection.
One wrote: "Today's Eastenders episode really happened in East (Walthamstow) I remember this day like it was yesterday."
Another added: "For everyone tweeting about how ridiculous lifting a bus is on #Eastenders tonight it really happened in Walthamstow..."
One stated: "They basically recreated the moment they lifted the bus in Walthamstow #eastenders."
Another wrote: " That #bus! #eastenders #Walthamstow did it for real!";
The Sun Online has contacted a representative for EastEnders for comment.
Seven million fans saw a double decker bulldoze Albert Square market in Monday’s episode of the BBC soap, leaving up to 11 characters facing death.
But many were angry at the much-hyped pre-watershed “disaster week” opener and its similarity to the Berlin attack at Christmas.
A bus driver fell ill at the wheel and accidentally drove into the stalls.
Twelve people were killed in Berlin last year as a truck tore through a packed marketplace.
Others likened the scenes to last year’s Bastille Day attack in Nice, where 86 were killed as a heavy goods vehicle drove into revellers.