Pride of NZ: Response amazes Lucy Knight

Lucy Knight, with her youngest sons Max (left) and Bene, says she is months away from full recovery.

Reluctant heroine injured after helping woman being attacked has no regrets.

Lucy Knight - Bravery and Heroism

Lucy Knight is still shocked by the lasting impact a split-second decision can have.

Last year, Ms Knight stepped in to help an elderly woman being attacked by a teenager outside Auckland's North Shore shopping centre.

The teenager turned on Ms Knight and hit her in the head, causing her to fall.

She underwent major surgery to stop bleeding on the brain. It has been a day-by-day recovery process for Ms Knight, and she is still months away from being back to "normal", she said.

But she has no regrets.

"I was there with my kids and there is this poor lady on the ground being attacked - you've got to do something," she said.

"But I don't feel brave."

Aside from the physical implications of that split-second decision, there have been unexpected positives.

"The whole thing has shown me what's really important - and it's family and community. Doing one little thing made me aware of them all standing together and helping us."

For her selfless decision to help a stranger, Ms Knight has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand award, in the Bravery and Heroism category.

Ms Knight is humbled by the nomination.

The media attention and response from her community was amazing, she said.

"I get people coming up to me in the supermarket saying 'thank you for what you did' and I'm thinking 'gosh, you don't need to thank me'."

Reading of crime and injury in the paper affects Ms Knight more than it had before the incident and has made her consider more deeply the background and situation of offenders.

"I want the person involved to come through and be in a better position than they were, rehabilitated ... with help for him and his family.

"But there are underlying thoughts of 'gosh, why did you do that?'"

Despite her experience, Ms Knight believes the majority of people are willing to stand up for others and care for them.

"I hope people realise how grateful I am."

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Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
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For more information on the awards go to the official website.