If you live in Australia you would have heard about a man who dragged a woman out of a taxi in the city's cbd at 8am and then proceeded to shoot a man dead who came to the woman's aid. The man who died was only 43 and was a husband and father of three. The incident has posed the question what would you do when you see someone in distress - would you help. I recently was awoken in the early hours of the morning to my doorbell. Someone was pressing my doorbell frantically. As I stirred out of bed I was unsure as to who was behind my door and whether to open the door. I heard a woman's voice and she was in distress. When I opened the door I saw a European lady in her fifties standing in her dressing gown pleading in broken English for help as her husband wanted to kill her. I didn't know what to do and my sister and I told her to go around the back of the house.. don't know why, but something instinctively told me to do that. She proceeded to come into our home and she told us her husband abused her and she had had enough. I called the police and they assisted the lady. The situation turned alright for me and it was a choice to whether I could have helped that lady. But a man this week decided to help a woman in apparent distress and it cost him his life. What would you do? Would you be prepared to help? Do you think good in us outweighs our own concerns for our own life?

Bella, I think not only being a Chirstian but from my upbringing and my passion for helping other people, I probably would try to help. I don't think I could see myself turning away if I saw someone in touble. I guess at the time you never realise what could happen. I told my minister the other day that I don't seem to have fear in me, I have faith that God will be with me protecting me from all harm and evil.

Wow interesting thought. I know that in my job of child protection at times I have been in extremely risky situations, that were potentially life threatening.

I am also aware that God does not always chose to protect his children - I think the Christians in other countires who die for their faith even today is testament to this. Good on you Ashley for feeling no fear. I certainly do and I hope it makes me wiser for it. I applaud you Bella for taking the woman in. I know I would have done exactly what you did as well.

Yes I would definately help. Imagine how you would feel if something happened to the person in question. How would you feel? I usually say to myself "what would I do if the situation was reversed?" and that is how I make my decision.

I too work in the same industry as you kiwichick and quite often are placed in very life threatening situations. The sad thing is; as much as we preach about worker safety, our roles and the situations we face just become routine and I suppose some workers can become complacent and familiar with threat. Given I value the greater good so much, I think that I would probably be likely to jump in and asisst people in distress and not consider the potential consequences for myself, simply because I am exposed to risk on a daily basis. However, it may be different for others that are not accustomed to as many situations as us in our profession.

I found myself on the other side of this topic - I was being assaulted by my ex husband at his house when I went to pick up my children from a visit, and ALL of the passerbys (there were quite a few of them) they ALL walked to the opposite side of the street, didn't say a word, and kept walking, as I was being thrown around the driveway. It really made me sad that NOONE would come to help in a situation like that. They couldn't even pick up a phone and call 911 - there was a corner store right across the street, and people just got in their cars and left!!! I wish there had of been people like you around at the time that's for sure!