The Glasgow woman at the centre of a viral video has spoken out about the dark side of being an online hit after a clip of her trying to revive a dying pigeon took the internet by storm this week.

Lehar Laghmani, 34, became the centre of attention when a Twitter user filmed the radio presenter and DJ in Sauchiehall Street on Tuesday giving mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions to the bird. 

While many praised Lehar for her heartfelt actions, public reaction wasn’t all that positive - with things even taking an unpleasant turn at one point.

Describing the day’s events, Lehar told the Evening Times she was having lunch in Bath Street with a friend after which she happened upon the bird close to M&S.

Glasgow Times:
(Credit: Twitter)

She said: “I saw the pigeon just lying there in the middle of the street, so I went to see if it was dead or alive. Had it been dead, I would have just moved it aside, but it was conscious with its eyes still flickering.”

Lehar, who moved to the city from India 17 years ago, explained how her traditional Sikh upbringing taught her to always care for all living creatures, be they human, insect, or bird.

Having tried to revive the pigeon, she felt like she could do no more and left it lying by a tree.

Little did she know, though, that she had been filmed by a member of public and that the video would soon be all over the web, with tens of thousands of people from across the world reacting to it.

Lehar described her shock and disbelief when her 16-year-old son informed her of the clip after his friends alerted him to it.

“It was very upsetting for us both. While some people were supportive, some of the comments were terrible - some even sexual in nature. It was quite disturbing.

“I tried to get in touch with the girl who recorded me to tell her she’s made my life hell, but I didn’t hear anything back.

Glasgow Times:
(Credit: Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

“I was scared my son would be bullied at school, so I asked him if he wanted to stay off, but he said no. Thankfully, he was okay.

“The most upsetting thing was that people were making up their minds about me and saying I was on drugs without knowing the whole story.

“People were saying I’d end up sick, but I know what I’m doing. I volunteer in hospitals all over Scotland and get yearly blood tests and vaccinations.

“The attention a half-truth draws is so much more dangerous than a whole lie.”

READ MORE: Glasgow woman filmed giving CPR to unconscious pigeon in busy street

Educated in India, Lehar described how she had degrees in science and law and is also qualified to Masters level in speaking eight different languages.

Currently studying intelligence communications at the University of Glasgow, Lehar’s ambition is to become an RAF officer in around two years’ time, taking her away from radio life.

In the meantime, though, she has her own two-hour drivetime show with Awaz FM 107.2 - a community station that broadcasts to the city’s Asian and African communities.

READ MORE: Glasgow woman Lehar Laghmani who tried to give pigeon CPR hits back

After the Evening Times tracked her down and spoke with her, she used her two-hour slot on Wednesday to further discuss the incident and get her side of the story across. What she didn’t expect was the flood of calls of support from both readers and listeners.

“I got to the point I couldn’t even answer the phone during my show,” she said. “There was just too much to do, but it was overwhelmingly positive.

“People from across the community and city were praising and thanking me.”

Glasgow Times:
(Credit: Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

Lehar has immersed herself in charity work for most of her adult life, and said she is proud to lend her support to the WWF, guide dogs, the British Red Cross, kids with cancer - and even to an endangered tiger in Nepal.

“I was invited to Buckingham Palace in 2014 for a garden party to celebrate 150 years since the founding of the Red Cross Movement, so it’s something I’ve no plans to give up any time soon.”

If she could speak to the young woman who recorded her just now, Lehar said she understands if her intentions were purely harmless, but called on people to help out that little bit more in everyday life where and when they can.

“Always try and help anyone or anything,” she urged. “Doing so doesn’t cost you anything.”