In the aftermath of the terror attack at Parsons Green Tube station, one local restaurant owner decided to give back to the emergency services patrolling the neighbourhood.
Teo Catino, who owns Italian restaurant Il Pagliaccio, and his family were evacuated from their home in the aftermath of the attack.
Wanting to play his part, the generous restaurateur set up a stall at the bottom of Parsons Green with free pizza and water for the emergency service workers to avail of.
Teo gave out 200 pizzas to police officers, firefighters and NHS workers who were on the scene.
The 52-year-old told The Metro: “I have owned a business and lived in Parsons Green for the past 25 years.
This guy's giving free pizzas to police on Parsons Green - to thank officers for their work today @LBC pic.twitter.com/DkJB1EqOe1
— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) September 15, 2017
“My wife and daughter should have been on the Tube this morning going to school.
“Luckily they are on the bus coming back from France today so they are safe but my sons are both a little shaken”.
Teo’s employees also pitched in to help out. When they were running out of pizza, one took to his skateboard to ferry fresh pizza from the restaurant to the stall.
A nurse said the free refreshments were very welcome while working a 12-hour shift on site.
“This is perfect. We have a team here who have been here since 8am and we won’t leave until about 8pm”, she said.
someone get this guy a medal #ParsonsGreen pic.twitter.com/Ff53yXBohO
— sean (@seanbehann) September 15, 2017
Later in the day, Teo even passed out free pizza to journalists covering the event.
Teo’s son Daniel said: “We wanted to do our part. And what better way than to give food and drink?”
Teo’s generous actions were praised on social media and many of the police officers shook his hand as they received their pizzas.
“Thank you for your work”, Teo told two officers who came by the stall to collect a pizza.
In response to his thoughtful gesture, one Twitter user wrote: “Love when the community pulls together to help our emergency services when they are going above and beyond”.
“Good man, no doubt that will be hugely appreciated by the officers”, another tweeted.
We’re very impressed by Teo’s kind and generous response to the crisis – we need more people like him in the world!
