‘Hero’ barber reveals chaotic scene, brave actions by public after alleged attack on Helen Haines
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A barber who helped perform a citizen’s arrest on a man who allegedly attacked MP Helen Haines has revealed how he pulled the driver from the car and what he said as he pinned him to the ground.
Other witnesses have also described the shocking incident, which has left Haines, the member for Indi in north-east Victoria, with critical injuries after she was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electoral office in Wangaratta on Monday.
Ricky Jefferies speaks to media outside of his barbershop. Today
The alleged attacker, who has been identified as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, is in custody.
Ricky Jefferies, who runs RickyChops Barbershop, saw the alleged attack happen before 4pm on Monday.
He admitted he did not realise exactly what was happening at first.
“I didn’t realise the seriousness of the situation initially,” he told media outside his barbershop on Tuesday.
“Once it became relevant, I just did what I could and what others were already trying to do.”
The alleged attacker also had a knife on him, but Jefferies was able to get to it first, disarming and restraining the man until police arrived to arrest him.
Flowers rest out the front of Ricky Jefferies’ barbershop in Wangaratta on Tuesday morning. James Costa
He also revealed what he said to the alleged attacker once he had wrestled him away from the car.
“I just leaned over him, and once it was, you know, once he was on the ground and he was no longer a threat, I just stood with him and told him that he can’t leave… [but that] ‘everything is all right, mate,’” Jefferies said.
“And obviously, you know, for everyone else involved, that’s not true, but in order to get him to calm down, it was the right thing to do and to show any kindness.”
He said he was “humbled” by the praise and thanks he received from the public, but insisted there were others who also played their part in halting the alleged attack, insisting they also put themselves in harm’s way.
“They did so much more than me… the other people here, they deserve the credit,” he said.
“I mean, the driver was still in the car, the car was still on, and they sat in front of a rolling car. That’s not an exaggeration.
“There is a man that sat in front of a moving car to help someone. That really happened. Like, that’s not just a soundbite, a man sat down and refused to leave.
“I had no choice but to take him out of the car, because… it was the right and safest thing to do.”
Another witness, Cody Lepoidevin, was working across the road when the alleged attack unfolded.
“Everyone came out, bystanders, myself, and a couple of customers did what we could,” he told Nine newspaper The Age.
He said about 10 people came out to help Haines, and described the chaotic scene that unfolded.
“We thought he was trying to run away, but he then reversed and drove back into her another three times before trying to flee,” he said
“I was there to restrain him against the wall, but yeah, more or less they got him out of the car.”
Lepoidevin claimed the driver was “delirious” but admitted the moments after the alleged attack were “a blur”.
Jefferies said it was difficult to discuss the incident because of the connection between everyone in the local community.
“It’s such a small town, it’s hard to stand up here and talk,” he said.
“Because you know everyone here. The first people on the scene were people I know. The first police [officers], I cut their hair, the first firies, I cut their hair, first ambos, I cut their hair.”
Local barber Ricky Jefferies, who helped stop an alleged attacker after Helen Haines was injured. Supplied
PM leads praise for ‘hero’ Jefferies
Jefferies’ actions have been praised by politicians across the nation, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“It’s got to be said here that at this dark and terrible time, a element of light is the fact that a good Samaritan, someone rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta, put themselves potentially at risk by doing so, and that person is a hero today,” Albanese told Today.
“He deserves an enormous praise and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even more further infliction of damage which was aimed at Helen.
“At the worst of times, we do see the best of the Australian character.”
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said Jefferies was an illustration of the best attributes of Australians, praising his quick-thinking actions.
“We see the best of Australia, which is Ricky, who looks at it, analyses the issue in a microsecond and puts his life at risk to make sure that he apprehends the person who allegedly has done this action,” Joyce told Today.
Despite being involved in stopping the alleged attack, Jefferies still returned to work on Tuesday morning, the mayor of Wangaratta confirmed.
Jefferies’ actions have been praised by politicians across Australia. Save Australia
“He was busy cutting someone's hair,” Irene Grant told Today, saying she had personally thanked him for what he did.
“He just shrugged his shoulders and said, well, he just did what he had to do,” she added.
“I think that that also typifies so many people here in Wangaratta that get on with their job and do what they have to do.”
Haines was airlifted to hospital in Melbourne, where she underwent surgery.
She remains in a critical condition with life-threatening injuries, according to police.
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