Heroic Humble Dutchman

Melbourne shooting hero recounts ordeal

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Originally Posted by News.com

Four weeks after being gunned down at point blank range as he went to help a woman in distress in central Melbourne, Paul de Waard said he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time''.

The 25-year-old Dutch backpacker was shot twice, in the chest and abdomen, after he and Melbourne solicitor Brendan Keilar went to the aid of Kaera Douglas, who they saw being dragged from a taxi by the alleged gunman.

Mr Keilar was shot several times and died from his injuries.

Today, Mr De Waard said he would do it again if he saw a woman being attacked.

"I was not supposed to die at that moment - it was not my time,'' Mr De Waard told a media conference.

"What did I think? I had to help her. You don't beat up a woman.

"I would do it again. Of course I didn't know the guy had a gun but if I see a guy beating up a woman, I will help her again. I think as a man you don't beat up women.''

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:inquisitive: :sweatdrop: :2thumbsup:

Good on him! I just read this myself and I must say it is a relief to know that there is still good in this World. :2thumbsup:

He saw a woman get hit and helped her out, is that heroism nowadays? It's cowardice if you don't.

Fragony changed someones life again!
EDIT: now he posts right above me...~:o

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Originally Posted by Fragony

He saw a woman get hit and helped her out, is that heroism nowadays? It's cowardice if you don't.

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Actually the heroism is that he would do it again... after almost dying.

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Originally Posted by Papewaio

Actually the heroism is that he would do it again... after almost dying.

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When presented with the same situation, he didn't know he had a gun at the time. Why not mourn mister Keilar instead, he died.

Brave man.

My respects to this man and to Mr Keilar, may he rest in peace.

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"What did I think? I had to help her. You don't beat up a woman.

"I would do it again. Of course I didn't know the guy had a gun but if I see a guy beating up a woman, I will help her again. I think as a man you don't beat up women.''

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Yes, he feels glorified with heroism and probably rightly so, but he has a big mouth. If I were him I would let the heroic fact stand as it is and shut up.

What's up with the criticism and cynicism? The guy did the right thing and paid a high price.

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Originally Posted by Bijo

Yes, he feels glorified with heroism and probably rightly so, but he has a big mouth. If I were him I would let the heroic fact stand as it is and shut up.

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Please, have you ever been the target of journalists ? They probably put half the words in his mouth, fat chance being the 'silent hero'.

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

What's up with the criticism and cynicism? The guy did the right thing and paid a high price.

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Thank you Louis, took the words right out of my mouth.

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

What's up with the criticism and cynicism? The guy did the right thing and paid a high price.

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Reminds me of the movie The Adventures of Baron Munchausen where Sting gets executed for being too heroic and making the people feel bad about themselves. :wall:

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Originally Posted by imdb

Horatio Jackson: Ah, the officer who risked his life by singlehandedly destroying...
Functionary: [whispering in his ear] Six.
Horatio Jackson: ...*six* enemy cannon and rescuing...
Functionary: Ten.
Horatio Jackson: ...ten of our men help captive by The Turk.
Heroic Officer: Yes, sir.
Horatio Jackson: The officer about whom we've heard so much.
Heroic Officer: I suppose so, sir.
Horatio Jackson: Always taking risks far beyond the call of duty.
Heroic Officer: I only did my best, sir.
Horatio Jackson: Have him executed at once. This sort of behavior is demoralizing for the ordinary soldiers and citizens who are trying to lead normal, simple, unexceptional lives. I think things are difficult enough as it is without these emotional people rocking the boat.

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Originally Posted by Fragony

He saw a woman get hit and helped her out, is that heroism nowadays? It's cowardice if you don't.

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I agree. And such 'heroic' feats, big and small, happen every day all over the planet. Let me put is this way: if you reach the age of twenty-five without having helped at least one lady in trouble, it means that either your life or your eyesight sucks.

Risking death over it is something else though. I can not speak from experience, which is the ultimate judge..

Wait a minute...
https://jimcee.homestead.com/pigFly.jpg https://jimcee.homestead.com/hellFrover.jpg

And AdrianII and Fragony agree?

Obviously, the end-times are upon us.

:)

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Originally Posted by Adrian II

I agree. And such 'heroic' feats, big and small, happen every day all over the planet. Let me put is this way: if you reach the age of twenty-five without having helped at least one lady in trouble, it means that either your life or your eyesight sucks.

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I'm only 21 but I think it's my life.:sweatdrop:

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Originally Posted by Adrian II

Risking death over it is something else though. I can not speak from experience, which is the ultimate judge..

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I don't think they knew the guy had a gun, which is why I don't see how they were that brave, if they went up to him knowing he had a gun, they might even have been stupid as the result shows.

I'm sorry but for me heroism always meant that not only you achieve something outstanding, but that you also survive it. I know nowadays every dead soldier is declared a hero even if he didn't fire a shot. I'd say he might have had a potential to become a hero, maybe every human does, but the potential alone is not enough IMO.

It was nice that they wanted to help the woman and I appreciate that, but for me to become a hero takes more than getting shot in an attempt to help someone because getting shot tends to render you unable to help.

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Originally Posted by Adrian II

I agree. And such 'heroic' feats, big and small, happen every day all over the planet. Let me put is this way: if you reach the age of twenty-five without having helped at least one lady in trouble, it means that either your life or your eyesight sucks.

Risking death over it is something else though. I can not speak from experience, which is the ultimate judge..

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Damn, I gotta be quick and get those new glasses !

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Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Wait a minute...
https://jimcee.homestead.com/pigFly.jpg https://jimcee.homestead.com/hellFrover.jpg

And AdrianII and Fragony agree?

Obviously, the end-times are upon us.

:)

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Now that is what I call heroism.

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Originally Posted by Adrian II

If you reach the age of twenty-five without having helped at least one lady in trouble, it means that either your life or your eyesight sucks.

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I guess it is time to share our experiences...
I ... um ...

Damn!!

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Originally Posted by Husar

I'm sorry but for me heroism always meant that not only you achieve something outstanding, but that you also survive it.

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Eh? Heroism is usually defined by courage and sacrifice, not survival or result. It is a moral category, not a pragmatic one.

The meaning has certainly changed over time. In its original meaning the word hero (Gr. ‘ηρως) referred to men of fame and (superhuman) powers. Most Ancient heroes wouldn't qualify as modern heroes. Herakles was a rapist and murderer suffering from bouts of insanity. Achilles comes a little closer since he was a tragic character, torn by fits of rage and moments of extreme lucidity. The modern hero retains some of those aspects though, just think of the Terminator movies.

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Originally Posted by KukriKhan

And AdrianII and Fragony agree?

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Oh, we agree on other things as well. Certain movies. One or two books. Err.. we both hate a particular cheese, the name of which escapes me at the moment. See? All is not lost.