A visitor from the United States converted a motorcycle mishap into “one of the best experiences ever” when she received one of the island’s famed fish sandwiches from a Good Samaritan while she recovered in hospital.

Melissa Lynn Rowe, from Iowa, stepped off a cruise ship at the Royal Naval Dockyard last week with her husband, Matt, on their first trip to the island — but, moments into their excursion, it all went wrong.

The couple visited the Scooter Mart at Dockyard to rent a bike but Mrs Rowe “got distracted” while practising as they prepared to venture on to the road.

She said: “Instead of braking, I accelerated and braked at the same time and then I just flew off the scooter.

“I think I was in so much shock, I didn’t realise how hurt I was until we started walking.”

The couple stopped at a pharmacy and received assistance from the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.

Medics back at the cruise ship recommended Mrs Rowe visit the emergency room at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She had sustained a lacerated spleen, as well as cuts and bruises on her knees and arms.

She said: “We weren’t even in Bermuda for more than two hours when I was taken to the hospital.

“We hadn’t seen anything and there I was, admitted to hospital.”

She recalled that a woman on the cruise ship had recommended she sample a fish sandwich.

She said she was looking forward to tasting the delicacy because she used to run a restaurant in Iowa.

She added: “I was eating the hospital food and it’s nice but I couldn’t stop thinking about that fish sandwich.

“That’s all I wanted.”

Mrs Rowe explained: “I Iove food, I’ve been an event co-ordinator for a very long time and so food is very important to me, my career and as a person.

“I don’t care too much about the touristy shops. I want to get to know the people, their food, the way they live. For me, that’s how you travel.”

She said that while she was in the hospital she “felt guilty that I had ruined the whole trip”.

From her hospital bed, she joined the Facebook group Bermuda Daydreamin’ and after reading several posts, she decided to ask about tracking down a fish sandwich.

She added: “So many responses came in, and then I got a notification in my message requests from a Ms Gina.

“At first I didn’t know what to do. I responded and she said her partner would be there with my fish sandwich.”

Jeffrey Benevides, an animal control warden, said he was out and about for his job when his fiancée, Gina Moniz, called him after spotting Mrs Rowe’s post on Facebook.

The couple saw that the visitor was getting sent recommendations on social media but, as a hospital patient, was unable to act on them.

He said: “We decided to help, so I stopped by Seaside Grill, picked up a sandwich and dropped it off to the lady at the hospital.”

Mr Benevides said he opted to bring Mrs Rowe the grouper sandwich on raisin bread — with tartare sauce on the side.

He added: “She was very excited, kind of shocked — she actually started to cry.”

Mr Benevides said the couple simply decided to brighten Mrs Rowe’s visit after her stroke of misfortune.

“I always like to do my part,” he said.

Mrs Rowe said: “It was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in my life. It was incredible.”

She said she loved the island and was most impressed by the warmth of its people, especially the hospital staff.

“My husband and I have travelled places together and we both agree that the kindest people are here,” she added.

Since she was discharged, the couple have visited a restaurant and beach near their hotel.

She has a doctor’s appointment on Friday to be medically cleared to travel home.

Asked if she planned to return, Mrs Rowe said: “I use to think Hawaii is the greatest place in the world but Bermuda has absolutely won my heart.

“I pray that my husband and I will be able to come back again and have an even better experience.

“There are so many beautiful silver linings to what happened.”

They were looking forward to visiting Hamilton for Harbour Nights.

She said: “Harbour Nights is what I was looking forward to going to when I got here last Wednesday.

“That’s all I wanted to see — to get the scooter and get over to Hamilton.”