Australian barber hailed as hero for running to lawmaker’s rescue during attack

By Christine Chen SYDNEY, Oct 20 (Reuters) Australian barber Ricky Jefferies has been hailed as a hero for running out of his store to detain a man who authorities allege deliberately drove a car into lawmaker Helen Haines in ​the small town of Wangaratta, an incident that has shocked the country. Jefferies ‌had just finished haircuts for a young family on Monday when he said he heard a loud bang outside his shop and realised the driver of a Toyota LandCruiser had struck Haines, leaving her badly injured. It was crazy, I just ran out the front to see what was happening, he told reporters on ‌Tuesday. He ​said he ran to assist the well-respected local MP, grabbing ⁠a knife from the alleged ⁠attacker s pocket and pulling him out of the car. He did have a knife. He didn t pull it out. I just wasn t comfortable with his movements, and so I basically just took it out of his pocket and threw it away, he said. Jefferies ​said he then held the man down until police arrived. I just lea