A father from Yorkshire has been hailed a hero after undertaking an epic four-hour round trip to rescue his daughter's Christmas, when her most-wanted present sold out locally.
The Festive Panic Begins
Tom, a father-of-two, shared on TikTok that his daughter's Christmas hinged on receiving one specific gift: an Our Generation School doll. She had made it abundantly clear that her festive joy would be ruined if the coveted toy wasn't under the tree. However, leaving the purchase to the last minute proved to be a critical error.
When Tom finally visited his nearest Smyths Toys Superstore over the weekend, he was met with empty shelves. The doll was completely out of stock within a 60-mile radius of his home. To make matters worse, the store did not offer home delivery for the item.
The Epic Journey to Sheffield
Faced with a disappointed child, Tom made the decisive choice to drive to the nearest store showing stock: the Sheffield branch, a gruelling 60-mile journey away. He documented his mission, comparing himself to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the film Jingle All the Way, who desperately hunts for a sold-out toy.
"Am I about to embark on a four-hour round trip... just to make sure that I manage to get the toy that she really wants for Christmas? Yes, I am," he stated in his video. He even joked about the possibility of the stock count being wrong, quipping he might "just end up in the English Channel" out of despair.
Success and a Frustrating Twist
After battling rush hour traffic through Bradford and Leeds, Tom successfully collected the doll from the Sheffield store. His dedication prompted viewers to crown him "dad of the year", with many calling the panic a parental "rite of passage".
However, the story took an ironic turn upon his return. A workmate sent him a photo showing the exact same doll in stock at the Smyths in Wakefield—just a 15-minute drive from his home. Tom was left furious that the online stock information had not been updated, saving him a three-and-a-half-hour drive.
The experience served as a stark lesson in Christmas preparedness. Tom vowed to start his shopping in November next year, a sentiment every last-minute parent will understand.
