Strathcona sex assault heroes hailed for their courage

Residents in the Strathcona neighbourhood where a woman was brutally sexually assaulted are sharing their appreciation of the men who helped rescue thewoman and tackle and hold her alleged assailant.

• Strathcona sexual assault victim in hospital, man arrested

Due to a publication ban, we are unable to identify those witnesses who spoke to CBC News about the incident.

One of the witnesses who chased the alleged assailant says he and a friend were leaving their house when they heard screaming.

"We started to run," he told CBC News. "And thenwe saw a man chasing a shirtless man and so we just kept on running and cut [the shirtless man] off in the park here, and tackled him right down there and held [him] until the police came. We struggled for awhile. We had to take him down twice"

The witness shruggedoff suggestions that he's a hero.

"We try and keep an eye out for each other," he said smiling.

He says it's the first man on the scene who deserves the credit.

"He's the guy you want to talk to," he said. "He ran into a house without knowing what was in there,"

Police say a passerby went into the woman's home and fought her attacker off, forcing him to leave the house and then gave chase.

Witnesses say the woman was covered in blood. Police say she's in hospital recovering from "serious injuries."

Neighbourhood is a community say residents

LoraPostma, a neighbour of the victim says not everyone is capable of thatkind of bravery.

"I think it really takes a very special kind of person to have the wherewithal to go up and first noticethere was something that wasnt right and walk up several steps, and [then] open [the] door to check on somebody," she said.

I think that it takes someone special."

Postma has lived in the neighbourhood for 15 years and says she's always felt safe.

"We live in a community where people look after one another and you know its the double edged sword of living in a small community where people are in your business which can be really annoying sometimes, but also gives you a real feeling of safety.

"I went by myself to bed last night and I still feltsafe. I feel this is so random and so out of touch with the norm for this neighbourhood ."

Grateful residents have started a coffee fund for the heroeswho helped in the woman's rescue at the local hang out, the Union Market Bake Shop andCafe.