A professional Muay Thai fighter has been hailed as a hero after stepping in to protect two women during a road rage incident in Australia. Ryan McDonald, 19, from Brisbane, was returning from a camping trip in Noosa when he witnessed a man in a white van threatening two women on the Bruce Highway, a major roadway in Queensland.
Incident unfolds on highway
Dashcam footage showed a young woman attempting to merge into the left lane multiple times, but the van driver repeatedly blocked her before jumping out and trying to open her car door. McDonald told Australia's 7NEWS that he instinctively left his own vehicle to confront the man.
'He jumped out of the car in the middle of the highway, and there are these two girls on their own in the car,' McDonald said. 'I was thinking this would be a good opportunity to help, to use what I know and help these girls, and to try and de-escalate the situation.'
Confrontation and calm response
Other motorists also stopped, but the van driver did not back down. McDonald said the man ripped off his shirt and 'instantly tried to start a fight.' When McDonald told him to get back in his van, the driver responded, 'You sure you want this?' and 'You don't know who you're messing with.'
McDonald remained calm, saying, 'I didn't try and pose a threat or make myself look big [but] he was trying to be threatening.' A fellow motorist recognized McDonald from social media and warned the driver about his Muay Thai champion status, but the driver was unimpressed, saying, 'Show me how professional you are then.'
Viral video and praise
Eventually, the van driver gave up and drove away. McDonald filmed the incident, and the video has since received around three million views and 72,000 likes on Instagram. He told 7NEWS that staying calm was crucial: 'It was the best possible outcome, to de-escalate the [situation]. Everybody got home safe that day.'
The video generated thousands of positive comments, with viewers praising McDonald's responsible actions. One person wrote, 'Good work brother,' while another said, 'The Bruce highway protector what a goat.' Others thanked him for protecting the women and for calling out poor behavior.
