Jamaican bobsled team rescued in 'Cool Runnings' city after becoming stranded

Thirty years after first capturing the hearts of Canadians during the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Jamaican bobsled team is again being embraced by the city of Calgary.

When their van broke down on the way to a competition this weekend the national team was left stranded in the city, where they made their Olympic debut, inspiring the 1993 film Cool Runnings.

Following the breakdown a good Samaritan, David Schnerch, picked the team up and took them to the Canada Olympic Park himself so that they could make their race.

A video on Facebook showed half the team members waiting for David's wife to pick them up while David was dropping the other half off at the competition and discussing their experience of the break-down.

The reaction from Calgarians on social media has blown the team away, according to Kathleen Pulito, the director of digital and social media for the bobsled team.

A resident set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the van's repairs and a local car rental agency has donated a van so they can continue their journey.

Pulito told Calgary Herald that she believes their connection to the City is why the residents have reacted in such a positive way.

“I think that’s why the community took over on social media,” Pulito said. “We’re in their hearts there.”

The team is fundraising online to help them to continue their pursuit of reaching the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.