Man with baby tackled robber
JEREMI Simpson was doing his weekly shop in Toowoomba when he became an accidental hero.
The young father was shopping with seven-month-old son Kaiden when he noticed something strange - the man he’d just walked past had a knife.
Moments later, the man pulled the weapon on a female worker.
“I saw him draw the knife from his side and threaten the young lady behind the counter and demand cash,” he said.
Mr Simpson calmly placed his trolley, carrying baby Kaiden, out of harm’s way and launched into action.
“Another bloke had nudged him with a trolley, yelling at him,” Mr Simpson said.
“That’s when I grabbed him from behind, bearhugged him and just dropped him to the ground while the other bloke ran over and helped restrain him.”
The pair detained the man until police arrived, then shook his hand for a job well done.
Thanks to his bravery during the robbery in May this year, Mr Simpson is being nominated for a 2018 Pride of Australia award.
Now in their 14th year, the awards honour every-day Australians who have made courageous contributions to their community.
News Corp, publisher of The Chronicle, is partnering with Australia Post and Seven news to stage the 2018 awards.
Following his actions Mr Simpson was praised as a “hero” and thanked by the mother of the girl he saved from the armed bandit.
Three months on, Mr Simpson said he didn’t see himself as a hero and just as someone who was “in the right place at the right time”.
“It doesn’t even cross my mind. I still feel the same way as I did, that I was just in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Mr Simpson admits to being “shocked” at the nomination.
“But I am proud of the honour and the fact that someone would think to nominate me is sort of overwhelming as I’ve never been nominated for anything like this in my life.”
Photo: AAP Image