By For a decade, Charlie Hicks kept the same schedule and the same order. Twice a day, every day, the 78-year-old walked into the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola and asked for gumbo—light on the rice, no crackers. Then, suddenly, he stopped coming.
That break in routine caught the attention of Donell Stallworth, a chef at the restaurant who had grown accustomed to seeing Hicks like clockwork. After two days without his regular customer, Stallworth decided something was wrong.
The story was featured on CBS Evening News in Steve Hartman’s “On the Road” series. Stallworth left the restaurant during his shift and drove to Hicks’ nearby apartment. When he knocked, he heard a faint response from inside: “Help.”
Charlie Hicks ate his lunch and dinner at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida, every day for 10 years. When he suddenly stopped showing up, the chef went looking for him – ultimately saving his life. @SteveHartmanCBS is On the Road. pic.twitter.com/UsHQ0CMvsV
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 13, 2025
Inside, Stallworth found Hicks badly dehydrated and suffering from broken ribs, injuries believed to be the result of a fall. Emergency responders rushed Hicks to the hospital, where doctors said the delay could have been fatal.
What followed went well beyond a rescue. During Hicks’ recovery, Shrimp Basket employees brought him meals from the restaurant. They also helped arrange a move into a new apartment across the street, outfitted with new appliances, so he could live more safely—and stay close to his daily routine.
Three months later, Hicks returned to the restaurant and sat back down at his usual table. His order hadn’t changed. Neither had the bond forged by noticing when something was off.
“I’m glad to have you back buddy,” Stallworth told him.
CBS News reported no conflicting accounts of the incident, framing it as a quiet reminder that familiarity, routine, and personal connection can still save lives—sometimes without anyone realizing it until it matters most.
