Hero PC Rugby Tackles London Stabber and Saves Victim
PC Mat Evans, a West Midlands police veteran with over 20 years on the force, sprang into action when he saw a man stabbed outside Royal London Hospital in London. Without hesitation, Mat put himself between the victim and attacker Mohammed Uddin.
After pulling out his warrant card to prove he was a cop, Mat chased the knife-wielding man as he fled. The officer expertly rugby tackled Uddin to the ground and wrestled the weapon from his grip.
Jailed Knife Attacker Faces 12 Years
The 36-year-old Uddin was later locked up for more than 12 years for the stabbing on October 12, 2019. PC Evans’ quick thinking stopped what could have been a fatal attack.
Bravery Awards Pile Up for PC Evans
For his courage, Mat has scooped several top honours, including a Met Police bravery award and a National Police Bravery Award. Last week, he sealed a hat-trick with the Emergency Services category win at the Pride of Birmingham Awards.
“Thankfully when I confronted Uddin he ran… but your police brain kicks in yelling ‘catch the bad guy’,” said PC Evans.
“Years of rugby training comes in handy when you want to put a bad guy on the deck. I knew I had to control the knife because there was no doubt he’d turn it on me next.”
“He was struggling violently and pulling on my beard… that’s what angered me most!”
“Being a police officer isn’t a job, it’s a state of mind you can never turn off, even when not at work. When I saw the guy being stabbed, there wasn’t a choice to make. I had to stop him before he killed someone.”
“It’s a real honour to get a Pride of Birmingham award, but there are officers doing equally brave things every day. I’m no better or braver than them.”
Fighting Crime Back Home in Birmingham
Back in Birmingham, PC Evans spends his days chasing down robbers and thieves in the city centre. For 23 years, he’s battled crooks — focusing recently on crackdowns against pickpocket gangs plaguing towns across the UK.
His leadership in a nationwide police intelligence-sharing operation has helped slash pickpocket offences in Birmingham city centre by nearly 25%, proving his fight against crime continues strong.
