Teens save schoolbus driver from basher

Ian Magee says he'd have taken a worse beating if there were only small children on his bus. Photo / Supplied

A bus driver says he might have been bashed to death by a passenger had it not been for the quick actions of a group of schoolchildren.

Ian Magee, a 56-year-old grandfather of nine, was attacked on his Auckland Metrolink bus just after picking up the last of a group of about 25 children - ranging from primary to high school students - in Mangere.

He said the "no fuss" morning turned ugly when a man - said to be in his 50s - got on board and started swearing at the children for being too noisy.

Mr Magee said he told the man to be quiet, but he walked towards the back of the bus yelling profanities and racist remarks at the children. "That was it," Mr Magee said. "I stopped the bus. It looked like he was going to hit one of the kids."

He told the man to get off the bus. Instead, the angry passenger grabbed Mr Magee, dragged him on to the street and started punching him.

"He hit me the first time on the side of the head, which stunned me a bit. The second hit, I got an eyeful of blood in my right eye."

The attacker hit Mr Magee another six to eight times while he was on the ground, as children on the bus screamed and pleaded with him to stop.

"That's when I saw three to four pairs of feet go past me and I don't know what [the students] did - yell or push him away - but it did the job. He ran off across the road."

Mr Magee said other students called the police and an ambulance.

A group of boys aged 16 and 17 from St Paul's College in Grey Lynn have been identified as the students who came to Mr Magee's aid during the attack, which happened just before 7am on Tuesday.

"I didn't see any of them. I don't know their names, but they are good kids," Mr Magee said.

"If I'd just had the little kids [on the bus] I would have got more of a pounding.

"They saved me and they saved the younger ones too."

Tramways Union Auckland chairman Gary Froggatt said the incident was shocking and he praised the teenagers' actions.

"On behalf of the union, we're extremely grateful to the students who assisted Ian. It showed courage and most likely has saved this man's life."

Mr Froggatt said the union was planning to acknowledge the students in a ceremony on a date to be set.

A South Auckland man has been charged with assault and is to appear in the Manukau District court tomorrow.