When a knife-wielding terrorist caused panic on London Bridge in 2019, Darryn Frost grabbed a narwhal tusk and ran towards the danger. The formerly shy civil servant helped pin the attacker to the ground, but he insists his actions were not instinctive. 'I was thinking about every action and consequence of it,' he said, contrasting with fellow hero Steven Gallant, who said he reacted on instinct.
Frost described entering a state of intense focus, with tunnel vision and heightened senses. 'My hearing switched off to everything around me except for the perpetrator,' he recalled. 'My vision went tunnel vision just on to him... I can still remember the flecks of dust in the air.' He said time seemed to slow down, like in a superhero movie.
Neuroscientist Dr Daniel Glaser explained that the 'fight or flight' response prepares the body for action, but the choice of action depends on perception, prejudice, and expectations. 'There's very good evidence to say that lots of things in the brain which determine your behaviour happen before you're aware of them,' he said. Life experiences and training guide bravery, not just instinct.
Prof Craig Jackson of the British Psychological Society said there is no 'profile' of a have-a-go hero. 'It's just as likely to be an angry mum in defence mode as it could be a fit, healthy rugby-playing male,' he said. This unpredictability reassures that attackers never know who might challenge them.
During the 2017 London Bridge attack, Roy Larner, 56, fought three knife-wielding terrorists with his fists, shouting 'Fuck you, I'm Millwall.' He was stabbed in his hands, chest and head, but his actions gave others time to escape. Such acts of bravery, though rare, demonstrate the complex psychology behind running towards danger.
