Citizen's arrest leads to bravery award

A Collie publican who tackled a bank robber to the ground and stopped him stealing more than $10,000 has been recognised for his bravery.

Mark McCarthy, 43, will today be named as one of 23 people who will receive a commendation for brave conduct – the country’s fourth highest bravery decoration – as part of the 2015 Australian Bravery Awards.

Mr McCarthy, a publican at the Crown Hotel, was walking his dog when he tackled Nathan Charles Chitty who had robbed the Collie Miner’s Credit Union and the town’s Bankwest branch while pretending to be armed with a gun on February 17, 2014.

He held the offender to the ground until police arrived and arrested him and recovered the stolen money.

Mr McCarthy said he was humbled to be recognised for the act of bravery and played down the incident.

“I still look back and think it could have gone badly but it didn’t,” he said. “But with the work I do working on the door of the pub, you are sort of confronted with tough situations now and then but you deal with it.”

A total of 55 people will be recognised in the Australian Bravery Awards for 2015. There are six group bravery citations, 23 commendations for brave conduct, 25 bravery medals and one Star of Courage.

“To the Australians being honoured today, I offer my warmest congratulations and express my sincere gratitude for your contribution to our nation,” Governor-General Peter Cosgrove said.

“Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us. Today, to their families, I express the nation’s sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one’s actions.

“We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to put themselves in harm’s way to assist others in need, and it is only fitting that they have today been recognised through the Australian Honours system.”