Three mechanics that intervened when youths attacked a man outside their garage have been nominated for a Croydon Champions award.

The fight happened outside Croydon MOT centre on Pitlake, Croydon, after an argument escalated between a driver and a group of youths who were seen to kick his car.

Items were thrown at the driver, who was then punched by one of the youths causing him to lose his footing, hitting his head on the pavement as he fell.

Graham Streeter and Derek Ray, directors at the garage, went to help the man who was unconscious, placing him in the recovery position and waited with him until help arrived.

The pair was nominated for the award by a member of the public that witnessed the attack on June 17 and praised their heroism.

They wrote on the nomination form : "Many other people including myself were just standing around watching. Other men did nothing; the mechanics were the only ones who came to the driver’s aid.

"They put themselves in the line of danger for a total stranger. They weren’t asked to do anything and they went beyond the call of duty.

"These men dealt with a very scary situation when many others refused to. When I congratulated one of them for their efforts, he simply said ‘well three on one isn’t right is it.’ In my opinion these men were total heroes."

Mr Ray, who is a father-of-four, said he was surprised to be nominated for the award, but it was nice their actions were being recognised.

He said: "It is quite amazing to be nominated; I think it was the right thing to do.

"It was three against one and it was turning nasty out there. He had a child in the car, and they were taunting his wife, that’s why we interfered. It’s wrong when three boys set upon an older bloke."

Mr Streeter, a father-of- two also said he was pleased by the nomination and he would be willing to step in again if he had to.

He said: "I would never hesitate to interfere if something like that is going on."

 

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