'Natural instinct': Nine boss was witness who came to aid of teen victim in 'shocking' brawl at a Sydney wharf

Matt Stanton, the acting CEO of Nine, has been revealed as one of the diners who came to the aid of a teenage victim in a 'shocking' brawl at a Sydney wharf.

Stanton helped to save a teenager from a gang of thugs after the fight broke out in Manly on Sydney's northern beaches, it has emerged.

He said he was spat on and pushed by the gang, but said it was "natural instinct" which saw him take action.

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Stanton was dining at a restaurant near the wharf on the evening of January 6, when he heard the commotion, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

As many as 40 teens and young adults were punching and kicking another teenage boy, who was on the floor.

A couple rushed in and pulled the boy out, before the gang turned on them.

They were punched, spat on and hit with bottles.

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They pulled the victim into a nearby restaurant and tried to block the door, which was when Stanton said he ran to help.

"I could hear screaming from a lady in Fratelli Fresh telling people to get out," Stanton said.Herald.

"I could see the gang trying to get in the door.

"It was quite shocking to see, quite frightening, I've never seen anything like it in the 15 years I've been going down there," Stanton said.

Stanton faced members of the gang who tried to get in.

"It was natural instinct – probably a stupid instinct as my wife told me afterward," Stanton said.

"I just held the door and said 'No, no, you're not coming in'."

Stanton came forward after NSW Police police released images of him and another man, asking for help to identify them as witnesses.

NSW Police established strikeforce Crookhaven to investigate the brawl.

One man has since been charged with riot and affray.

A large knife was later found on the street. He's been granted conditional bail to appear in Manly Local Court on January 29.

Stanton was appointed acting CEO of Nine Entertainment, which publishes this website, in September.