‘Hero’ breaks up knife fight in London park with families watching on

A man has been hailed a hero after jumping in to break up a fight between three teenagers armed with machetes.

Dramatic footage shows one of the teens being pushed to the ground in Burgess Park as the other two close in with blades, before a man runs between them to break up the fight.

He can be heard shouting: ‘What are you doing? Stop it,’ as he puts his own safety at risk during the incident in Burgess Park, Southwark, on Sunday.

Families were picnicking nearby while children played football when the incident unfolded at about 12.30pm. 

A crowd could be seen gathering to watch the fight unfold. At that point, a man runs at the two attackers and forces them to flee while the man on the ground runs to make a getaway on an electric scooter. 

The footage, which is under 30 seconds long, has been posted on social media, and viewers have heaped praise on the man who stopped the fight.

A witness who saw the incident unfold said the man who intervened had ‘saved a life’. 

He wrote: ‘This happened in Burgess Park, southeast London, where I play football every Sunday. 

‘The knife crime in London is alarming. The man that separated those boys deserves a medal. He saved a life.’

Another told Metro: ‘What that bloke did is heroic. He came out of nowhere to risk his life to de-escalate a vicious fight. He was amazing.’

Four teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

All four remain in police custody. Two suffered minor injuries. 

Following the incident a mum took to social media to express their fears that the park was no longer safe for children. 

She said: ‘Burgess Park is somewhere children and teenagers should be able to safely enjoy.

‘But there seem to be constant incidents in and around this park lately. Our children walk through here, ride their bikes through here and meet friends here. It is becoming genuinely frightening. 

‘Parents, please stop assuming your children are safe just because they are going to the park. 

‘No child should have to witness people running around with knives. No child should have to worry if their child is coming home safely from the park.’

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called at around 12.30pm on Sunday, 17 May to reports of an altercation in Burgess Park, Camberwell.

‘Officers attended and searched the area with the assistance of the police helicopter. Four boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

‘Three boys were arrested near the scene, while a fourth was arrested later on Sunday evening. All four boys remain in police custody.

‘Two of the boys who were arrested were reported to have suffered injuries in the incident, which were not life-threatening or life-changing.

‘One, a 17-year-old boy, self-presented at hospital for treatment to wounds and was discharged later that afternoon, following which he was arrested at a property in Southwark.

‘The second boy, a 16-year-old, was taken to hospital by police and was later discharged.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.

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