A Wangaratta barber who disarmed and restrained a driver after federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a four-wheel-drive has been praised as a hero by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Ricky Jefferies, who owns a barbershop next to Ms Haines’ electorate office, ran outside on Monday afternoon after initially believing a crash had taken place.
He allegedly pulled the driver from a Toyota LandCruiser, removed a knife and held him down until police arrived.
Ms Haines, 65, was taken to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.
Mr Jefferies’ sister Tanya said her brother had placed himself in danger by intervening, although he had not viewed his actions as heroic.
“It’s a terrifying incident and shocking and we’re still kind of processing it, and I’m so scared of what could have happened,” she told Sunrise.
“Ricky didn’t end up being hurt, but it was such a serious incident. He put himself in such danger along with everybody else who helped.”
Mr Albanese said the intervention may have prevented further injuries.
“It’s got to be said here that at this dark and terrible time, an element of light is the fact that a good Samaritan, someone rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta … and that person is a hero today,” he told the Today show.
“And I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even more further infliction of damage, which was aimed at Helen.”
The Prime Minister said the driver appeared to have made a U-turn before striking Ms Haines as she retrieved belongings from the boot of her car at about 3.30pm.
“This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear,” Mr Albanese told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
A 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, near Wangaratta, was arrested at the scene and remained in custody on Tuesday morning.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, including whether Ms Haines was deliberately targeted and whether she and the driver knew each other.
Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason thanked members of the public who detained the man and assisted the injured MP.
“This would have been a tragic, horrific incident for people to witness,” he said. “For those that were nearby and those that were involved and assisted in detaining the male and then also provided any assistance to the injured female, I just thank them.”
Flowers and a handwritten note were left outside Mr Jefferies’ business. “I hope you are OK. We pray for you. Nev and Donna,” the note read.
Ms Haines’ family also thanked those who came to her aid, along with health workers and police, and asked people to keep the MP in their thoughts.
