Teen hero Michael McGeorge proud to help his community

Despite a broken phone and some grazes, 14-year-old Michael McGeorge says he is proud to have helped his community. Photo / Duncan Brown

Chasing and apprehending an alleged robber might not be the natural reaction for most 14-year-old boys - but it was for Napier student Michael McGeorge.

An alleged attempted robbery from Napier's Arkwrights dairy has gone viral, due to the pink fairy costume worn by Liam Fontaine, one of the people who helped apprehend a man who allegedly tried to rob the store.

He was assisted by teenager Michael McGeorge, who had popped into the dairy with his girlfriend just before the man, wearing dark clothes and a balaclava, entered.

"I froze when he came in and kind of looked around, I kind of froze for a second," Michael said. "When he made his way out of the building, so I made my way out of the building, he started to run so I started to run after him".

The 14-year-old said he had not thought about what he was doing, but it was just a natural reaction.

He said he and Mr Fontaine chased the man up to Marine Parade, "and we tackled him on the ground, as we tackled him on the ground my phone broke and I got a lot of grazes".

"I was kind of shocked because I didn't know I was going to catch him. I feel really proud about it, helping the community."

After appearing on national news, the Taradale High School student said he had some interesting reactions from his friends, classmates, and even strangers.

"Some of them were kind of shocked, and then shook my hand and said thanks for helping out the dairy owner and the community".

Michael said the experience had taught him to remind people to always be aware of anything strange going on. He had been back to visit the owner of the Hastings St dairy, who seemed thankful for his and Mr Fontaine's actions.

The 42-year old man arrested in relation to the incident entered no plea when he appeared in Hastings District Court earlier this week charged with aggravated robbery.

He was granted interim name suppression and was remanded in custody until his next appearance in November.

On Sunday, Police Senior Sergeant Kevin Stewart thanked the pair.

"We want to give our pink fairy hero and his acquaintance a big pat on the back for preventing this offender from getting away," Stewart said.