BRAVE security staff from one of Southend’s biggest attractions rushed to the aid of an elderly man who was being attacked.

The security team from Adventure Island, in Western Esplanade, received calls from their staff that a man had been assaulted outside the park, opposite the arcade, Electric Avenue.

Mitchell Lotter, security supervisor at the theme park, said: “We had a call over the radio that someone outside the park had been assaulted.

“We got outside to find the elderly man on the seafront, terrified.

“On arrival, witnesses told us that he’d been attacked by a younger man, who had walked off towards the pier.”

The attacker walked away from the scene after a group of young people also ran to intervene.

Mr Lotter and members of his team chased down a man and stopped him near to the pier.

He said: “I stopped him, put him in an arm bar and detained him.

“We sat him on the floor while our colleagues called the police.

“We are always here – no matter if something has happened inside or outside of the park – to help people and ensure they are safe.

“We are happy we could help the elderly gentleman and support the police.”

Marc Miller, managing director of Adventure Island’s owners the Stockvale Group, was proud of his staff after they took a risk to keep the elderly man safe.

He said: “They are a fantastic team. Even though this incident was more to do with the seafront, they still reacted.

“We try to help police in any way we can – they do a fantastic job but they are short on numbers.

“I’m sure that without intervention from our staff, the attacker would have got away.

“They are a well trained team and I’m glad to see we can work together with police as a team too.”

The security team left the incident in the hands of police officers.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “Officers attended Western Esplanade, Southend, following reports of an alleged assault.

“We were alerted to the incident at 6.50pm on September 3.

“The victim, aged in his 70s, did not require further medical attention.

“A 32-year-old man, who had been detained by Adventure Island security, was arrested on suspicion of common assault.

“He has since been released pending further investigation.”