<p>Ricky Jefferies says he had just finished cutting hair when he grabbed and held the driver who allegedly deliberately stuck the Indi MP </p><ul><li><p>Follow our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/oct/20/helen-haines-independent-mp-alleged-car-attack-wangaratta-melbourne-hospital-ntwnfb">Helen Haines live blog</a> for latest updates</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/19/who-is-helen-haines-the-mp-allegedly-attacked-in-victoria-ntwnfb">Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria?</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">new political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The Australian prime minister has hailed him a hero for rushing out of his shop to help independent MP Helen Haines after she was allegedly run down in a deliberate attack – but barber Ricky Jefferies says he had “no choice” but to intervene.</p><p>Standing outside his shop, which is right next to Haines’ electorate office in Wangaratta on Tuesday morning, Jefferies was almost shy about the whole thing.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/i-dont-want-to-be-known-as-a-hero-barber-who-rushed-to-help-helen-haines-praised-by-pm-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>