Melbourne: An Indian-origin businessman has thwarted a robbery attempt in New Zealand when he wrestled with a gun-wielding man at his store.
Rupan Patel was working alone when the man armed with a long-barrelled rifle burst yesterday evening.
"When he first walked in my impression was it was a bit of a joke, a guy wearing a mask, but then he lifted up the gun and I thought 'Oh ok, this is actually happening'," Patel said.
He was talking about cash. Patel tried to open the drawer but the drawer did not open which made the gunman restless.
"He tried to climb over the counter and that's when I got the chance to just push him and grab him. He was holding onto me and we went flying down," he said.
Patel managed to pull the rifle from the man, who lost his balaclava and ran from the store, stuff.Co.Nz reported.
"I was pretty freaked out and a bit nervous. I had the gun in my hand and tried to smash the car window outside," Patel said.
The man jumped into a silver car, driven by a second man, and sped away.
Patel suffered bruises and swelling to his hip and arm from the fall over the counter.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Mortimore of New Zealand Police said the offender may have used an air rifle.
