A 26-year-old man who got caught up in a shocking brawl in Holmfirth town centre has told how he “didn’t stop to think of the dangers” and just plunged straight in.
Private pilot Mark Thomas, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, said he didn’t think twice when he heard a commotion as he was enjoying a quiet drink with friends and his girlfriend on Saturday night.
He says he tried to act as peacemaker when he saw another man having his head stamped on by two other men.
The 36-year-old victim needed hospital treatment after suffering a fractured or dislocated jaw.
Holmfirth is the town famed for its gentle depiction of rural life in the TV hit Last of the Summer Wine but on Saturday it showed its dark underbelly when a fight broke out in Norridge Bottom.
Dramatic video shot of the fracas shows Mark laid out on the ground and his sickened girlfriend screaming at the two men involved to stop.
Mark said: “I was out with a group of friends on Saturday when we heard this commotion behind us.
“I saw this lad covered in blood who was being attacked by two other lads. There were three men, one of them covered in blood.
“He was being attacked by the other two men. We immediately stepped in to help, which at first seemed to work. A few seconds later the violence erupted again except this time they knocked the victim to the ground stamping on his head, he was clearly unconscious.
“I tackled one of the attackers to the ground and shouted: ‘Stop fighting!’ He managed to get away from me and then stamped on his head.
“I tried to pull him back and was thrown to the floor, I was getting back on my feet when I was kicked to the head. When I came round luckily there were more people able to guard the victim and the two attackers walked away.
“When I saw the victim exiting the ambulance he immediately recognised me and hugged me saying ‘thank you.’
“That was lovely to hear. It was also amazing that he was able to walk away from such a vicious attack. When situations happen like this you don’t think of the consequences, it’s human nature to help.
“It’s just great that there were enough people including myself, my friends and other people willing to step in to help and prevent the victim in this attack suffering serious head injuries.
“Police told me what I did was heroic. Paramedics said I potentially saved his life.
“I have been in touch with the police and given them a statement. I’ve been checked out by medics and they say I am fine.
“All I was doing was trying to stop someone getting badly hurt and suffering serious brain injuries.”
