A REAL LIFE ACCOUNT FROM ONE OF OUR STUDENTS

 I was driving back from work at around 10.30pm and had just gone over the Mancunian way. There were two cars parked with their hazards going, blocking both lanes on the approach to great ancoats street. I slowed down and one of the cars pulled out of the way, only to reveal the crumpled body of a young woman.

I drove ahead 100 yards or so, parked up and ran back to help. As i got to the girl, she got up and ran off leaving me alone with 3 men, who proceeded to surround me. My exact thought as i felt my stomach sink into my shoes was "s**t, I fell for that one..." I started talking to them, trying to distract them and diffuse the situation, whilst trying to avoid letting them totally surround me.

I then tried to walk away, at which point one of them grabbed me by the shoulder from behind. I remember very clearly putting my arm over and under his, immobilising it and turning and striking with my right hand into his throat, catching him in the trachea with area between my thumb and fingers, which had the gratifying effect of making him drop like a lead balloon.

The look on the other two lads faces was priceless as I walked towards them, they moved out of the way and after backing towards my car for about 50 yards I gratefully ran back to my car and locked my doors and drove off at speed.( Cue 10 minutes of uncontrollable shaking as my adrenaline kept spiking!!) I was very lucky to get out of that intact, if I had reacted more slowly, or with less force, I don't think I would have gotten home to see my family that night.

The moral for me was, ring the police before stopping and fully check the situation before exiting the car. I was more frightened after the event than during, when the possible
consequences began to sink in. At the time I was more annoyed with myself for falling for it!!