Both men were awarded the certificate of appreciation at the NSW Police Service Chifley local area command medals and awards ceremony yesterday.

Mr Worthington said they were not heroes and said anybody else would have done the same. He said the attack happened in Machattie Park when the men were waiting outside the cathedral for choir practice.

“We heard a shout come from across the road in the park and there was a group of young people,” Mr Worthington said.

“There was one tall young fella in a blue shirt who took two steps forward and punched this bloke’s head and then did it again. It was looking nasty.

“Peter and I ran across the street and by the time we got there he was covering his head walking backwards.

“We started yelling ‘stop fighting, stop fighting’.

“There was one young fella who said to us ‘stay out or you’ll get hit’. It was more of a threat than a warning.

“By the time we reached him [the victim] he was in a foetal position and they were kicking him.

“I just could not stand there and not do anything. So we formed a two-man scrum over the man on the ground protecting him from getting kicked and that diffused the situation.

“Most of the group disappeared. The police were called and we took the man to the cathedral.

“After practice I said to Peter ‘let’s go down and give our statements’.”

Mr Worthington said he did not think they had done anything out of the ordinary.

“I have got six kids and if any one of them got into a similar situation I’d hope someone else would do the same thing,” he said.

Mr Worthington said he was extremely proud to receive the award.

“I thought I’d come today because it’s important the police understand the public will assist and support them. It’s not them and us,” he said.

Assistant Comm-issioner Stephen Bradshaw presented the men with their awards and commended them for their bravery.

“Mark and Peter, thank you very much,” Assistant Commissioner Bradshaw said.

“It just goes to show ... police are the people and the people are the police.

“For what you did was outstanding on behalf of the community.”