Joel Pierce, 40, was involved in a dramatic citizen’s arrest on the Gold Coast on Thursday afternoon, when a young offender tried to attack and steal his neighbour’s car
An Australian actor became an unlikely hero overnight – putting his own life on the line to take down an armed carjacker.
Joel Pierce, 40, was involved in a dramatic citizen’s arrest on the Gold Coast on Thursday afternoon, when a young offender tried to steal his neighbour’s car.
Pierce tackled the thief to the ground after chasing him on foot and wrestling a gun away from him – in a dramatic moment captured on film.
The young father-of-two, who will feature on the upcoming Hollywood blockboster Godzilla vs. Kong, told Daily Mail Australia he ran outside after hearing his neighbour screaming for help.
‘The screams were specific, she asked for help and said she lived here. So I had context that it was a neighbour who needed help. My reaction was instantaneous- I ran in the direction straight away,’ Pierce said.
Australian actor Joel Pierce (pictured with partner Kylie) became an unlikely hero overnight – putting his own life on the line to take down an armed and aggressive carjacker
His 27-year-old neighbour was standing next to her car at the intersection of the Gold Coast highway and St Kilda Avenue when she approached by a man and ordered to drive away.
After she refused, the man allegedly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her arm behind her back before pulling out a fake gun.
That’s when she began to scream for help.
His 27-year-old neighbour was standing next to her car at the intersection of the Gold Coast highway and St Kilda Avenue when she approached by a man and ordered to drive away
The attacker fled on foot and tried to carjack another driver before being crashtackled by Mr Pierce in the middle of the busy intersection
Mr Pierce and several other neighbours came to her rescue, with the actor copping a punch in the face as he tried to wrestle the attacker to the ground.
He said he was the man start moving towards ‘what looked like a gun’ on the ground, and despite the danger to his own life didn’t hesitate for one minute.
‘I did think I better get to that gun first,’ he said.
‘I’m one of those people that jumps in. Yeah there could have been pretty bad consequences, but that the price. It was instinct – not much thinking.’
Police later confirmed it was a toy gun.
The attacker fled on foot and tried to carjack another driver before being crashtackled by Mr Pierce in the middle of the busy intersection.
He jumped around his neck, brought him to the ground and two other men held him down until police arrived.
Mr Pierce and several other neighbours came to her rescue, with the actor copping a punch in the face as he tried to wrestle the attacker to the ground
The dramatic scene unfolded after the man allegedly crashed a white BMW into a tram after having stolen it earlier that day
When police arrived they arrested the 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old passenger.
The dramatic scene unfolded after the man allegedly crashed a white BMW into a tram after having stolen it earlier that day.
The driver has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of assault, deprivation of liberty and weapons offences and the passenger was charged with unlawful use of a vehicle.
Meanwhile Mr Pierce told Nine News the response from everyone involved was incredible.
‘I definitely couldn’t have done it on my own. People came and helped, which was great,’ he said.
But the successful actor, who has featured in dozens of Australian TV shows including Neighbours and Home Away said he’s grateful he doesn’t normally have to do his own stunts
‘I’d like to think when good people do nothing, bad things continue to happen.’
But the successful actor, who has featured in dozens of Australian TV shows including Neighbours and Home Away said he’s grateful he doesn’t normally have to do his own stunts.
‘I have never been this grateful to have stunt professionals in our industry,’ he said.
He took solace in the community response in a reflective post on Facebook after the event.
He took solace in the community response in a reflective post on Facebook after the event
‘What a wonderful world we live in, there were at least 6 people that helped with the take down and all our neighbours ran out in support of one of our own. Truly heartwarming that there are so many good people around us,’ he wrote.
He said he’s hopeful someone would help out if either of his two daughters aged 7 and 9 were ever in danger.
‘My daughters are probably just going to love having a story to tell at school, but I do hope that if they were ever in a situation like that – that someone would jump to their aid,’ he said.