Alexey Baybuz was just walking over the Queensborough Bridge enjoying the fresh air on Sept. 23, 2018, when he saw a man being attacked.
Some people might have walked in the other direction, but not Baybuz.
The Queensborough resident jumped into the fray as a 75-year-old man was being assaulted by a man wielding a hammer.
For that act of bravery, Baybuz was honoured Sunday by the Sukh Sagar Sikh Gurdwara (temple) in nearby Queensborough.
“He witnessed the attack and risked his own safety to help the senior citizen; he played an instrumental role in protecting the victim and preventing potential life threatening injuries,” said a news release from the temple organization.
Baybuz was presented with a plaque and cheque for $500 by the temple for the “tremendous bravery and courage he showed.”
Temple president Harbhajan Singh Athwal described Baybuz as a “model citizen, a hero, an amazing role model and an inspiration to us all.”
Another person intervened as well, according to New Westminster police.
When officers arrived on scene, they arrested a suspect, who has been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and assault.
“We are thankful that this was not worse than it was, which can be attributed to the people who helped stop the attack and the quick response of NWPD patrol officers,” said Sgt. Jeff Scott in a news release at the time.
