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Tania Lewis - Source: Newstalk ZB
A Whangarei mum who saved another woman being attacked by a hammer-wielding man is being described as a hero.
Tania Lewis was in her car with her son when she saw a woman running to her car.
"I saw a woman stepping out in front of the car and she was asking us for help," Lewis told TV ONE's Close Up.
She said she could tell something was wrong, and soon found out the woman was being chased by a man with a hammer.
As Lewis let the woman inside her car, a hammer landed, narrowly missing her window.
"It was like a horror movie."
She said the man looked like he was "possessed".
"I don't know how to put it. It was like the 'Terminator' on a mission with a calm expression on his face."
As Lewis sped off, the man jumped in his car and gave chase.
"I thought - we'll just take her to the police station ... I started to take off and then he's rammed us from behind."
It was the first of three times that the man rammed Lewis's car.
"I just took off and planted it - away from him. I had my hand on the horn the whole way so that people would get out of my way."
The final hit demobilised the car and forced the women to jump out and run.
He then tried to run the woman over.
"When he was trying to run her over, she was just in shock. Didn't know what to do," said Lewis.
It was then that Lewis made another quick decision - to dash up the hill behind them.
"I looked down and I couldn't see him following us up the hill - I just looked at her and said 'It's ok, we're safe'. I just gave her a cuddle and said for her to relax, to try to relax."
Police were soon on the scene and arrested the man.
But the selfless actions left Lewis out of pocket, with her car totalled by the rammings.
"I'm left carless, but I'm thankful."
But Whangarei Kia dealer Stephen Moore has donated a car to Lewis after a call from Close Up.
"We thought it appropriate that we give it to you. It's not everyday that you save someone's life."
The woman said she owed her life to Tania Lewis.
"She's a saving angel for me."
The 52-year-old man appeared in Whangarei District Court charged with eight counts of assault with a weapon, injuring with intent to injure, intentional damage and wilful damage.
