Every time a shocking event happens, such as the lorry attack in Nice or the failed coup in Turkey, there are, in the aftermath, always stories of heroes. People who risked their lives on the spur of the moment to defend others or who stood up against insurmountable odds.
Such stories are already emerging from Nice, such as that of the motorcyclist who drove alongside the truck during the attack and tried to get into the driver’s cab. Unfortunately, the attacker swerved and the man ended up beneath the truck’s wheels – he is in a critical condition in hospital.
In Turkey, too, thousands of unarmed citizens took to the streets to try and stop the coup attempt. They used their bodies to block tanks and to oppose soldiers, despite the obvious dangers. In both cases, the bravery of individuals is staggering, made more surprising by how quickly they react, with little thought given to their own safety. As the world seems to be getting more dangerous, it is worth remembering the heroism all around us.
