Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been hailed as a hero after he intervened in a violent domestic incident.
The 79-year-old was out walking in his Sydney neighbourhood of Wollstonecraft on Wednesday morning (local time) when he saw a couple fighting in the street.
The Sunday Telegraph reports a man and woman were fighting because the man had tried to throw something in a bin, and that the verbal altercation turned physical.
Mr Howard reportedly called out the word 'hey' to try and break up the fight, and then stood with the woman until police arrived.
Officers confirmed the former leader of the Liberal Party had assisted at the scene and it's understood he provided police with a witness statement.
A 44-year-old woman has been charged with breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and will appear in court on Tuesday (local time). A 47-year-old man was taken to hospital as a mental health precaution, and police say they hope to speak with him when he is well enough.
Mr Howard's intervention has been widely praised by other Australian politicians including Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
"How good is John Howard?" Mr Morrison told media, reports The Blue Mountains Gazette.
"It shows the character of the bloke."
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who defeated Mr Howard in the 2007 election, also congratulated the soon-to-be octogenarian.
"Well done John Howard," he tweeted on Sunday (local time).
"Any violence against women is unacceptable."
Specific details of the domestic incident have not been made public.
Newshub.
