Channel Nine reporter Christine Ahern and her cameraman have had a lucky escape in Rio.
The pair were on Copacabana beach when they were approached by a group of would-be thrives.
Ahern told 3AW that nearby security guards were quick to respond.
“There was a group of transvestites and it all happened in a flash,” she said.
“One came straight for my cameraman Glen and that’s when security intervened, but he did get clocked on the head with a handbag, which had a brick or something in it as it was pretty hard.”
Ahern went on to say how security had advised them to put the camera in a bag which she initially thought was “overkill.”
She also said the security guard, believed to be an ex-British special forces officer, was not injured in the incident.
“He’s very experienced, he turned to me and said, ‘It’s been a while since I’ve been clobbered by a woman’s handbag,’” she said.
Ahern also praised the quick thinking security guards who defused the situation.
