Retired detective carried to safety thanks BLM protester rescuer

The retired police officer pictured being carried to safety by a Black Lives Matter activist has thanked his rescuer for ‘saving his life’ after he was beaten ‘senseless’ by rival protesters. 

Witnesses claimed Bryn Male sparked trouble after shouting ‘f*** Black Lives Matter,’ but the Millwall fan today denied having any association with the violent thugs who caused mayhem in London last week and insisted he wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for the bravery of Patrick Hutchinson.

The former Met officer, from Hampshire, said he didn’t have a ‘racist bone in his body’ and was motivated to travel to the protests by his pride in Britain and his desire to protect historic statues, under threat from BLM demonstrators.

Mr Male – who was still sporting a black eye and was in obvious pain while talking – realises now it was ‘stupid’ to get involved.

The 55-year-old described for the first time the moments that led up to the now iconic picture of him being carried away from danger over the shoulder of personal trainer Mr Hutchinson.

He claims he did nothing to provoke the attack and said he was set upon by BLM protesters while he was walking alone.

‘I had spent the day in Trafalgar Square, talking to police officers,’ he said.

‘In the late afternoon I walked across Waterloo Bridge and at Festival Hall about 15 to 20 people jumped on me and started beating me. I’ll remember it for my whole life. I was completely on my own. It was madness.

‘They beat me senseless and then two or three of them, including Patrick, came to rescue me. Patrick put me on his shoulder because he realised I was going to get killed.

‘He said something like, ‘Come with me’. Even as I was being rescued, people were hitting me.’

Mr Male said he now wanted to meet up and hug his saviour.

‘I would love to stand there and shake that man’s hand who saved my life,’ he said. ‘ If you could feel the pain I’m in now. He saved my life. I take my hat off to his cause.

‘If he was here today I would say, thank you big man. He is a humble nice man and I can only say I want to meet up in the future and give him a hug and thank him.’

Mr Male said he only decided last Saturday morning to attend the protest.

He said: ‘I made the most stupid, stupid decision to go up to London that day because I’m a passionate British man and I wanted to protect the statues and our British heritage.

‘I was totally alone. I didn’t go up with anyone. I didn’t speak to anyone. I wasn’t with any other protesters. I wasn’t with any of the boys from Millwall.

‘It was a stupid, stupid moment. I just decided to go on the morning.

‘I have not got a racist bone in my body. One million per cent I would do the same for Patrick if it was the other way round.

‘I would never watch another man get beaten senseless for no reason whatever colour they were. I just get so stupidly passionate about the history.

‘I can’t say it enough, I am not a racist. I don’t like what’s going on at the moment and I couldn’t help myself from going up there. The world needs to change, I know that. I just didn’t think this was the right way.’

Mr Hutchinson said earlier this week Mr Male has not been in contact with him, but that he would have ‘not have much to say to him’ if he did.