Breaking down is nearly always a pretty bad experience – no one likes it. You don’t like it, your passengers don’t like it – and other drivers may well not like it in some circumstances. But one particular driver found a silver lining on his breakdown experience recently; none other than David Beckham pulled over to assist one Paul Long after he broke down on a busy roundabout in Hertfordshire. Breakdown recovery assistance surely doesn’t come much better than having an ex-England star lend a hand.

Mr Long was in the process of delivering his children to school when the breakdown occurred, doubling the stress he no doubt felt. He was stuck in traffic for over ten minutes before he received assistance from the famous free kicker, who pulled over and put his hazard lights on. He was dressed in his trademark hoodie as he got out and asked if Mr Long and his passengers were okay. At first they did not recognise the man, but soon the kids – and Mr Long – were screaming with excitement.

Few would not welcome such an encounter – except perhaps the odd Scotland supporter – and going by the account on BBC News, both Mr Long and his children were delighted to get to meet Beckham. A magical moment may have been tarnished slightly though, as Mr Long uncontrollably babbled “David Thank you, I love you!” – and who could blame him?

But for the rest of us, breaking down is less likely to be so memorable, relying as we must on rather more established means of rescue. So if an ex-international England star is not available the next time you break down, fear not, Start Rescue offers  breakdown recovery assistance that comes a very close second!