Teen searching for kind stranger who paid his Valentine's restaurant bill 'because he looked like his dead son'

A student wants to track down the kind stranger who paid for his Valentine's Day dinner because the teen resembled the mystery man's 'late son who died in tragic accident'.

Jack Hadlow went on a date with girlfriend Amy Potter at the Harvester, in Rayleigh, Essex.

But when the 16-year-old came to pay, staff told him another customer had covered his £26 bill.

The young couple were told by staff that the fellow diner thought Jack looked like his deceased son who passed away after a motorbike accident.

When the building student tried to find him to thank him, he had already left.

When Jack told his his dad Kevin Hadlow, 50, what happened they became determined to find the stranger to express their gratitude and to check he is okay.

Jack, from Rayleigh, said: "I was a bit confused. I didn't understand why he would do that. When I was told I reminded him of his son I was really shocked.

"I asked if he was still around for me to speak to him but apparently he left very quickly as he was tearing up. I didn't know what to think. I was tearing up myself.

"We got up straight away to try and find him but he was gone. I would like to see that he is alright. It was a lovely gesture. I just want to know he is okay."

Jack and his dad took to Facebook to try to find the kind stranger and Kevin's post has since received 1,400 likes and 2,243 shares.
Kevin, from Rayleigh, in Essex, said: "I couldn't believe what had happened. We immediately wanted to find him to thank him. It just restores your faith in humanity.

"I would like to do something exactly the same if there is some way we can help him out in anyway.

"You don't think somebody would do that and if we could all do things like this the world would be a better place.

"Jack was emotional. It was strange to hear what happened to his son. It is very hurtful to lose a child. As a parent you never expect it to happen, it would be my worst nightmare. It blew me away.

"He was at the right place at the right time. He was planning on going earlier but couldn't get in so went later. He was supposed to be there."

Jack claims he was told that the man had been looking over at him through the night and got tearful when explaining to a waitress why before paying the bill and leaving quickly.

Kevin said: "It was only £26 but that isn't the point. You don't expect that sort of thing to happen.

"The guy was on his own but spoke to one of the waitresses. He just walked in and hadn't booked a table. He was a single guy on his own. It would be nice to find him and say thank you."

"I think they were both blown away. He didn't make them feel uncomfortable. Jack is an intelligent guy and he took it in his stride.