NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - If you saw a stranger being attacked, would you jump in and help or walk away?
An incident involving a young man stabbed multiple times after helping a girl he feared was being attacked is raising that question.
"I shouldn't be here right now, looking at my wounds," said 24-year-old Aaron Rath.
It was last Wednesday night when Rath heard screams coming from outside his North Little Rock apartment. When he went outside he saw a woman, and a man, later identified as 23-year- old Leland Kerlin, attacking her.
"At that point I didn't really think, I just kind of reacted," said Rath.
That's when Aaron says he jumped in, trying to protect the woman. The next thing he knew, he was covered in blood.
"I felt something go in and I felt it rip back out and, at that point, I pushed him away and looked down and the whole left side of my leg was covered in blood," said Rath.
Aaron was rushed to the hospital with several stab wounds. His accused attacker was later arrested.
While he says what happened was unfortunate, it's what didn't happen that troubles him the most.
"There were other people around and nobody else did anything. They looked away or didn't want to get involved because they were scared of what was going to happen to them," said Rath.
Still, he insists he's no hero - just a person in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.
"I knew what the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do was, and the wrong thing to do would be to walk away," said Rath.
He says his scars will never allow him to forget that.
"They are God's way of saying remember me, remember these scars and just know I'm always with you and I'm always going to take care of you," said Rath.
Aaron suffered a large stab wound to his abdomen, one to his back and one to his neck, nearly paralyzing him.
Leland Kerlin, the accused attacker, was charged with 1st degree battery.
Kerlin is currently of out jail on a $25,000 bond.
Watch extended interview:
