My Spider-Man - by mum whose boyfriend took a bullet for her on Sheffield bus

A SHEFFIELD man has spoken about 'taking a bullet' for his girlfriend after he was shot at point-blank range when using his body as a human shield to protect her and her young son.
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyGareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Gareth Lane, 35, says he now no longer he needs to marry Jen Dunstan-Furniss after showing his commitment.

Mr Lane was shot at from four meters by a gunman moments after getting off a bus with Ms Dunstan-Furniss, 35, and her four-year-old son Rio, as they headed to the countryside for a picnic.

Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyGareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The bullet missed and Mr Lane lived to tell the tale as Ms Dunstan-Furniss said she wanted to ‘shout from the rooftops’ about the bravery of her boyfriend.

She said: “He’s an absolute, real-life hero. I just want to shout it out from the rooftops - who needs Spider-Man when I’ve got my own real-life hero.

“I have been asking him about commitment but then he stands in front of a bullet for me.”

Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyGareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The gunman began to behave aggressively towards Ms Dunstan-Furniss during the bus journey in Sheffield, and the man turned to Gareth, who had jumped in-front of his partner, and was shot at from point-blank range.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When Mr Lane and Ms Dunstan-Furniss got off the bus, the man shot at Mr Lane, who leapt between the gunman and his family in a bid to protect them.

The gunman fled and then hijacked a car at gunpoint and forced the driver to take him to Sheffield city centre.

Speaking about the ordeal, Mr Lane said: “I don’t think I’m going to have to marry Jen to prove my loyalty any more. My only concern was the safety of Jen and Rio.

Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyGareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

“The man was being quite aggressive towards Jen during the journey -and I told him he should stop.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When we got off the bus, he got off behind me and when I turned round he had pulled a gun out.

“I must have been four feet away from him when he fired. I don’t know how but he must have missed.

“I think it was a real gun because the cartridge was still smoking for a while on the ground afterwards.

Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyGareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Gareth Lane stood in front of a gunman to protect his partner Jen Dunstan and her four year-old son Rio in Fox Hill, Sheffield. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

“Then he pulled a knife out. I went to grab a dry stone from the wall and my plan was to hit him with it, but then he just legged it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The police later told me that he then went and hijacked a car at gunpoint.”

Mr Lane added: “I’m still a little bit shaken up. Rio seems okay, he said he enjoyed his ride in the police car.

“We will have to keep an eye on him.”

Mr Lane praised South Yorkshire Police for taking the incident, which happened at around on 12.45pm on May 1, “very seriously”.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101.