If you witnessed someone being attacked, would you try and help?

[Frosty66612]

Saw an old documentary last night about Lee Rigby and the people who stepped in to try and help him during the attack.
It got me thinking if I would be brave enough to do anything If I witnessed such a brutal attack that had weapons involved. I honestly don’t know if I would though as i’d be so terrified :-(
Would you try and help?

As a police officer, the most helpful thing you can do if you don’t feel like you can intervene is to capture as much detail as you can. Descriptions, exactly what happened, as much as possible. Photographs if you can safely do so. And obviously call police/ambulance.

I’m obviously trained; thankfully I’ve never come across anything like that outside of work but I’d still be wary of wading in without my equipment depending on the circumstances. Even we are told over and over that our own safety is paramount and, whilst that doesn’t usually stop us, it’s something for everyone to bear in mind.

I am not sure, depending on the situation to be honest. I always would call for help though at least.

I have once called the police for a street fight. Everyone watched. I called the police. The fighters left and I stayed on to tell the police who arrived well after the event that I was the one who called and what happened. I felt like an idiot but the police officers were very nice and said I had done the right thing.

I also intervened on a late night train as a teenage girl was bullying another (hitting her, sitting on her to prevent her breathing). I asked her to stop. She challenged me back but I did not budge (all words and stares). Looking back, I was very lucky this was pre-knife crime. I got up and intervened because there were other passengers (not many, say 4 in the coach) and thought they would back me up. In reality, they watched and said nothing. When the girls left, they just tutted at the girls.

I stepped in when my dog was attacked.

I am 5ft 2 and 8st, my dog is a 7st American bulldog and was attacked by an equal large Belgian Malinous. I couldn't watch my dog being attacked so stepped in and separated them. Got a nasty bite for my trouble but there was no question of me not helping my pet.

That Canadian police officer who recently arrested some terrorist suspect without firing a shot (suspect was shouting "Shoot me!").
Watch the video, bystanders in background.. they wander by oblivious to the mutual gun-pointing & then suddenly twig situation & hide behind a building still not very aware.

Even watching TV & films now I often ignore the main characters or main action, the set or background can be so much more interesting.

I was attacked by a knifeman many years ago. I screamed for help and screamed that I had been stabbed. Nobody helped. When the police did their door to door enquires most of the street heard the incident or watched it from their windows but they didn't help. I don't understand it.

I have since helped people in dangerous situations, I guess now the only time I would hesitate is if I was with my children. But I would seek help from others like the police if that was the case. I couldn't do nothing.

Not nearly as serious as some of these but I once stepped in between two middle aged guys shouting at each other and about to have a fight on the tube. Only after did I think it was perhaps not the wisest idea but basically shouted at them both to grow up, leave each other alone and pointed one in one direction and the other the other. Most of the other people around just stood and watched.

Were the adults dead rough? I'm astonished that they were cheering the assault on. Who does that?

They were just shoppers of all kinds 😢. This was back in the early 90s long before mobiles and social media. I was in my early 30s but the range of people watching and cheering was from teenagers to much older people. And it wasn't just a few, it was a large crowd. And you are right, just who does that? I don't think I've ever been so angry as I was that day.

I have done. And was a witness in court as a result. The victim spent 8 weeks in hospital and after the trial he thanked me and my then BF for saving his life. The two men got long custodial sentences. I was 16 at the time and tbh I didn't think twice, I just stopped and helped.

When I was visiting my parents last year, I was in the kitchen which looks out to a square and there are guys who pick up tourists in their rickshaws to take them around the city centre. . There were two guys intimidating a bike guy who was having a problem getting away from them,so I called the police and then threw a bucket of water over the arseholes when they were under our window.

When the police turned up and I went down and told the police what had happened. The arsehole s were very quiet then,as they were both very wet! The rickshaw guy was grateful.

In most circumstances I would and have. I have to stop myself if anything. I can't honestly say I would in an extreme case like Lee Rigby though.

I was working behind a bar and had something heavy thrown at me by a dickhead who wanted more drink even though we had been ordered to stop serving. Luckily there was a group of navy lads beside him who grabbed him and tried to get security/ guards.

Usually I can talk them down but this one was something else.

Recently had to call the guards on a man dragging a woman down the road, whilst shouting abuse at her and hitting her. Unfortunately couldn't intervene, had kids with me. We walked as fast as we could and popped into the garden of a house of people we know and I called them. Its a busy road and only one car stopped. I can honestly say if i didnt have the kids with me i would have intervened.

It’s terrible how much violence we have all witnessed or been victims of. Humans really can be scum sometimes!

I would only intervene if I thought I could help. In most violent situations, I wouldn't have the strength or skill to get physically involved. I would however always call the emergency services and administer first aid if needed (and if it was safe for me to do so).