“I’m lucky to be alive,” said 77-year-old Herb Freeborn, describing an unprovoked attack he suffered shortly after noon Wednesday while riding his e-bike in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania. The township is about 30 minutes southwest of Philadelphia.
Freeborn said he was waiting to cross Chester Pike in the Crum Lynne area when a man came up behind him and began punching him. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect crossing traffic and approaching him.
Freeborn said the attacker didn’t say anything. He suffered injuries to his face and eye, but managed to run away.
The suspect did not take the e-bike. Instead, he threw it and walked away, according to reports.
A bystander, Danny Doyle, stepped in to help. Doyle said he initially thought the man was trying to steal Freeborn’s bike, so he grabbed it and checked on Freeborn.
Freeborn said he was deeply grateful for the help. “I want to thank him very, very much,” he said. “I appreciate everything he did for me.” He added that he wasn’t used to people helping him that way.
Ridley Township police released surveillance images of the suspect and said he had been taken into custody shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday. Police had not immediately provided further details about the arrest.
Freeborn said he worries the suspect might hurt someone else: “If he did it to me, why wouldn’t he do it to somebody else?”
