Florida Chef in Pensacola Saves 78-Year-Old Regular’s Life After Noticing He Suddenly Stopped Coming for His Daily Meals
FLORIDA — A longtime Pensacola restaurant customer was rescued after a chef became worried when the 78-year-old man suddenly stopped showing up for his daily meals — a routine he had followed for a decade.
Chef Grew Concerned After Elderly Man Missed His Usual Visits
Staff at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida, said Charlie Hicks, 78, had ordered a cup of gumbo for both lunch and dinner every single day for the last 10 years. His absence was unusual enough that employees felt something was wrong.
When they called him, Hicks said he was sick and asked them to leave his meal at the door so he wouldn’t get anyone else sick.
Phone Stops Answering, Chef Rushes to Check on Him
On the third day, Hicks’ phone stopped going to voicemail.
Donell Stallworth, 45, a chef at the restaurant, feared the worst and drove straight to Hicks’ apartment during his shift to check on him.
Inside, he found Hicks on the floor, injured and severely dehydrated. The elderly man had fallen, broken two ribs, and was unable to call for help.
Stallworth immediately contacted authorities and got Hicks transported to the hospital.
Hospital Recovery and Continued Support
Medical staff treated Hicks, and he eventually recovered.
Restaurant employees continued delivering his gumbo to the hospital every day so he could keep his routine while healing.
Staff Helps Him Relocate to Ensure Safety
After his release, workers went beyond the rescue — they helped Hicks move into a new apartment next door to the restaurant, allowing them to look after him more easily.
A Daily Meal Routine That Became a Lifeline
What began as a simple meal tradition ended up saving a life, thanks to a chef who refused to ignore a loyal customer’s sudden disappearance. For more community stories and breaking updates, visit NapervilleLocal.com.
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