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Heroic moment a New Jersey teacher breaks up a gruesome fight by using her body as a shield

Posted on by Nargang
Heroic moment a New Jersey teacher breaks up a gruesome fight by using her body as a shield

By Bethan Sexton for Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

A New Jersey teacher used her body as a human shield to protect a student who was being savagely beaten by a group of teenagers.

Cathy Hurley, 56, didn’t think twice when she saw the young man beaten by a group of five thugs outside a Bayonne school earlier this week.

The special education teacher escaped unharmed, unlike the teenager who was knocked unconscious during the violence.

Educarray McGhie, 18, and four minors aged between 15 and 17 have been charged with aggravated assault after the boy was left needing hospital treatment.

“I was really shocked at how bad the attack was,” said Hurley’s daughter, Frankie Sielski. NBC.

Heroic moment a New Jersey teacher breaks up a gruesome fight by using her body as a shield

A New Jersey teacher used her body as a human shield to protect a student who was being savagely beaten by a group of teenagers

Cathy Hurley has been credited with saving the teenager's life after putting her own safety at risk to help him

Cathy Hurley has been credited with saving the teenager’s life after putting her own safety at risk to help him

She lay on top of the boy as he was assaulted by five other youths who police have charged with aggravated assault

She lay on top of the boy as he was assaulted by five other youths who police have charged with aggravated assault

“I immediately Facetimed it. Her eyes were full of tears, I said “Are you okay?” She said something very bad happened.

The shocking video shows the youths kicking and stomping on the teenager, who lies defenseless on the ground.

Hurley is seen falling to the ground and using her body to cover him until the blows subside.

“Thank God he got through it because there was no end in sight,” Sielski added.

“I know her thought process just made her stop and she kept saying ‘I called the police, I called the police’ and the kids didn’t stop.

“She just had to make them stop, so that’s what her body did. There was no thought behind it.

The attack happened near William Shemin Midtown Community School, although the alleged perpetrators attend nearby Bayonne High School.

In a letter to school staff obtained by Jersey Postthe Shemin school administration praised Hurley’s “fearlessness.”

“She was the only adult to step into the situation, trying to pull the attacker off the victim and eventually laying on top of the student to use her body as a shield,” the letter said.

Hurley's daughter, Frankie Sielski, said she watched the horrific video several times before realizing her mother was protecting the boy.

Hurley’s daughter, Frankie Sielski, said she watched the horrific video several times before realizing her mother was protecting the boy.

The attack happened earlier this week outside the William Shemin Midtown Community School

Hurley praised as 'fearless' in letter from William Shemin school administration

Hurley praised as ‘fearless’ in letter from William Shemin school administration

“Her dedication to our students, her maternal instincts and her Hudson County fearlessness tie for a close second to her kind and compassionate heart.”

Bayonne School District Superintendent John Niesz added that Hurley embodies what the citizens of Bayonne are all about.