What would you do?

[guhdoo]

The other day while me and my DD were watching tv in the living room i heard some noises from outside( I live in a first floor flat) When i pulled back the curtain to look outside i see a man being seriously assaulted outside the main entrance of our flats. He was being beaten by about 4 men but 4 or 5 others were jumping around watching. Someone higher up in the block shouted at them to stop beating this man and they started to throw stuff at her windows and shouting. At this point even though only a few seconds has passed im scared as one of the men sees me looking out, I grab my dd and we both just cower in the hallway away from any windows. Then i suddenly think of this poor man and that i should call a ambulance. leaving my dd in the hallway i go for my phone and take a quick peep outside and all is gone no sign of anyone. So i change my mind and just leave it as our block is covered by millions of 24hour manned cameras anyway. Should i have called the police or an ambulance? I didnt see much anyway as i was hiding. A riot van turned up an hour or two later anyway.But no ambulance. Im ashamed to say i thought of myself and was worried they would find out if i did call anyone. Should i have shouted out or something?

I think you should have called an ambulance, but thinking of your safety and that of your DD perhaps not shouted out.

Has there been anything on the news about the assault?

How typical of the riot police to turn up a couple of hours later, very helpful.

what you should hsavre done is hidden and called the police, but you dont always react the way you should in these situations. hope the man is ok

I don't think anyone would have found out who you were from the ambulance service, they only take your number to discourage prank calls/help someone who can't talk.

And I also don't think the police can compell you to be a witness if it came to court can they? If you were worried about them finding out who saw them assault the man.

Have listened to local news and checked local papers and nothing has been mentioned. So maybe not as serious as i first thought.
This is the first time since becoming a mum iv had to think like this, got my dd to think of and not just myself. But shock played a part.

you should have rung for help.

you should have immediately , as soon as you had seen the beating, called 999 and asked for police and ambulance... also could have said you'd been seen by the perpertrators and were really worried

you should have called for help , definitely not shouted out or anything though

You should have called an ambulance.

I can see why you were afraid to call the police

I can well imagine the shock and being frightened the violence would be turned on you.

Lots of people are rooted to the spot when something like this happens, I suppose it's to not attract the attention onto yourself.

Very scary for you.

As a rule, I think you do have to weigh up the risk to yourself. but overriding that, in my mind, is the thought - what if that was my son, my brother, my DH and no-one did anything?

... but witnessing violence is really shocking.

Jamieleecurtis- I Know what you are saying because those are exactly the words that were and still are running through my mind.

You should have called the police and an ambulance straight away.
I've been in the position of the man getting beaten up when I was a teen and no one stopped to help even though plenty of people walked past :( I think the fact that no one tried to help shook me up more than the assault TBH.
I don't want to make you feel guilty because obviously you have to protect your DD first but what if it was your DD in that position in the future? Surely you would want somebody to help. Having said that now its over I would just leave it unless you see an appeal for witnesses anywhere, the victim might not want any police action now.