Damien Guerot, dubbed “Bollard Man,” emerged as a hero during a horrific stabbing spree at a Sydney shopping mall. On Saturday, Guerot faced the attacker, Joel Cauchi, who was armed with a long knife and had already claimed six lives while injuring 12 others. The assailant’s rampage ended when he was fatally shot by a police officer.
Bravery in Action
As the tragedy unfolded, Guerot and his friend Silas Despreaux, both construction workers, were heading to the gym when they heard screams alerting them to the danger. Without hesitation, they sprang into action. Footage of Guerot wielding a plastic pole against Cauchi on an escalator has gone viral, capturing a tense moment of bravery aimed at preventing the attacker from reaching a children’s play area.
The Confrontation
Guerot encountered Cauchi at the top of an escalator. “His eyes were like empty eyes… he wasn’t there,” Guerot recalled during an interview with Channel Seven. Despite their efforts, Cauchi turned and fled, with Guerot and Despreaux chasing him down. During the pursuit, they directed Inspector Amy Scott towards the attacker. Scott bravely confronted Cauchi and shot him as he lunged at her with his knife.
Acknowledging the Real Hero
While the public has lauded Guerot and Despreaux for their courageous actions, Guerot insists that Inspector Scott is the true hero of the day, acknowledging her decisive action in neutralizing the threat. Inspector Scott has received national acclaim for her actions but has chosen to stay out of the public eye.
This incident, while tragic, highlighted the extraordinary acts of bravery and quick thinking by ordinary citizens and law enforcement officers in the face of grave danger.
Also learn about Suspect in Sydney Stabbing Rampage Identified After Fatal Attack at Bondi Mall.
