VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — If you're put into a situation where it's life or death, you probably don't know how you'll react.
Some people freeze while others spring into action, like Alexander Seaver from Virginia Beach. He, along with his girlfriend Erin Bennett, saved their neighbor from being stabbed to death.
“I’ve always been brought up to help and to run towards the fire,” says Seaver.
Last January, Seaver and Bennett were leaving for lunch when they saw their neighbors fighting. It's a story my colleague Margaret Kavanaugh first brought you during a News 3 Investigation.
“Within that first half second we saw the glint of steel from the guy's knife and just him stab him,” Seaver says.
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The couple watched in horror as they say the brutal attack happened steps away from their apartment off Indian Road in Virginia Beach.
“As Erin screamed ‘he's stabbing him,’ I'm running down the hallway to grab my firearm. Then we all just went downstairs and helped him,” he says. Seaver's dad was also there rushing towards the danger.
Seaver says he pointed his weapon at the attacker as the victim ran towards Bennett's voice nearby.
Bennett says, “the victim got himself up after being stabbed and ran and we met him right at the front door and got him laid down and put the towels over."
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They say the victim had multiple stab wounds and they helped him until medical professionals and police got there.
It was the violent outcome of a fight that started from a noise complaint.
“Somebody ultimately could have died that day, you know? And it does hang on me,” Seaver says.
I asked him if he could go back in time if he would do anything differently.
He said, “if there's scenario or situation like that there's not a doubt in my mind that I'd do it again."
For his actions that day, and commitment to helping others, I wanted to follow through and award Seaver as a News 3 Everyday Hero. I also shared a $300 VISA gift card from our partners at Southern Bank.
Seaver and Bennett say they are grateful to have been in the right place at the right time and encourage everyone to stand up for what's right.
