Bystanders rescue woman from vicious attack at traffic light

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman's screams and frantic tooting of her car's horns saved her from a vicious assault and attempted robbery as she sat in her car at traffic lights on an Auckland street last night.

The woman was waiting at traffic lights on Great North Rd, New Lynn - near the New Lynn Public Library and McDonalds - about 9.30pm when a 22-year-old Mt Roskill man opened her car door and began making his way inside the vehicle, punching and strangling her.

A group of eight men at nearby E-Loong Internet Café heard the woman's screams and her frantically tooting her car's horn and ran outside.

"We ran out the front and saw a black car with a guy getting into the driver's side and a girl half in the gear box and half in the passenger seat," said one of those men, Konrad Berking, 25.

"There was struggling going on - she was trying to kick him out."

Mr Berking said the man saw the group approaching and ran off.

Mr Berking tended to the woman - who was very upset and had obvious facial bruising and strangulation marks around her neck - while his friend Barrie Olsen, 36, followed the man.

Mr Olsen said the man ran towards the McDonald's restaurant and took off the blue overalls he was wearing, throwing them into a rubbish bin.

The man then tried to mix in with a group of teens who were standing near the library's steps, he said.

"By the time [Mr Berking] had rung the police, my other friends came around the corner and I called them over, this all happened in about two or three minutes, then we all just completely surrounded him pretty much.

"He realised he was out numbered and took off and ran away, and we all ran after him."

The man then ran towards the nearby Denny's restaurant.

"He tried to do a loopdey-loop around a van and ran back towards the road towards where I was standing and I managed to kick his legs out from under him and he fell over and the rest of the boys piled on top of him."

Police showed up soon after and the man was arrested and charged with assault with intent to rob.

He was due to appear in Waitakere District Court today.

Waitakere Police Area Commander Inspector Scott Webb praised the men's actions.

"The way they managed to co-ordinate themselves, call police, assist the victim and detain the offender was very impressive and we'll be looking at a way to formally recognise their efforts.

"This was a very frightening, random situation and I am sure the public will be reassured that the alleged offender has been arrested and put before the courts."

The victim received medical treatment for her injuries.