Australian becomes national hero after chasing hit-and-run suspect in his PANTS before giving ‘most Aussie interview ever’ on TV
Daniel McConnell was woken at 2am after a car smashed into a fish and chip shop near his home in Brisbane, Australia
A HERO bystander wearing only his pants has told how he helped cops to arrest a rogue driver who ploughed his car into a fish and chip shop in the dead of night.
Daniel McConnell said he was lying in bed at his home in Brisbane, Australia, when he was woken by his wife around 2am this morning after she heard the loud crash, reports.
Daniel McConnell told Today TV reporter Jessica Millward he snapped into action, chasing down the man who had just about destroyed his mate’s mum’s shop.
“I jumped out of bed, all I had was me undies on,” he said.
“I’ve walked out the front and I’ve seen the bloke walking back to the car and so I’ve walked outside and said ‘What are you doing mate? You can’t be leaving the scene’.”
Daniel said the driver told him “Don’t be a hero”, and jumped in his car to “scoot up the road”.
“I just said, ‘Nah, it’s not going on like that mate’,” he said.
“So I jumped in me car and I started chasing him up the road and he went up a side street.
“The police were coming, I flashed them and sent them in the direction to him.
“But mate, all I had was me jocks on and I’m chasing him up the street and I’m just like, mate!”
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With Daniel’s help, police were able to catch a suspect who has since been charged with one count of unlicensed driving.
The 35-year-old is expected to appear at the Brisbane magistrates court on January 31.
The community-minded neighbour impressed Today host Karl Stefanovic, who labelled Daniel “Aussie of the day”, before quickly promoting him to “Australian of the year”.
Newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys said: “Wouldn’t you like to live next door to Daniel”.
But when asked how he felt after the ordeal, Daniel said he didn’t feel like a hero.
“It’s just something you do for the community mate. You look after your mates and your mates’ll look after you,” he said.
The outside of the chippie after the rogue motorist went careering into it
The Brisbane man has been praised on social media following the broadcast.
A post on Today’s Facebook page has already earnt thousands of comments.
“What a legend, not all heroes wear capes, some wear jocks mateeeee!” one viewer wrote.
“This is what it means to be an Australian ... But I think he was more shocked about being in his jocks than the actual incident, what a legend! Made me smile.”
Others have suggested Daniel be nominated for Australian of the Year, a bravery award, and even be the next face of Aussie underwear brand Bonds.
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