A pair of Good Samaritans have won praise after intervening to prevent a woman from being sexually assaulted.

The victim was walking along a trail in the Warwick Long Bay/ Horseshoe Bay beach area when she was approached by an unknown man, on Wednesday, at about 10.45 a.m. Police say the offender then made sexual advances towards the woman.

However, a nearby man and woman, who were walking their dog, watched the situation unfold and stepped in. The suspect ran away, but was later arrested by nearby officers.

Bermuda Police Service and a support group for women victims of sexual attacks have now both commended the couple for their actions.

They say their intervention could have spared the victim from physical injury and the associated emotional trauma which can go on for months. A police statement says: ?The Bermuda Police Service would like to acknowledge and commend the local couple for intervening in yesterday?s attempted sexual assault. Thanks to their heroic actions, a suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident and inquiries are ongoing.

?The Bermuda Police Service appreciates all the assistance it receives from the community in tackling crime and continues to encourage individuals to do their part so that together we can keep Bermuda a safe place for residents and visitors alike.?

Rochell Christopher, deputy chairwoman of the Women?s Resource Centre, said: ?What the couple did was certainly very commendable. ?Sometimes people don?t even look out for their next door neighbour when they are in trouble so to intervene like that is always good.

?Being the victim of a sexual assault can be devastating. Even when the victim doesn?t suffer a physical injury, she can still have a lot of emotional trauma and feel as if she has been violated.

?It can be something which takes a long time to get over. If you prosecute the offender, you have to relive the whole experience in the court and can feel you have been victimised more than once.

?All this shows how important it was that these two people intervened. We would always like to see people step in and act in this way.? Mrs. Christopher said even when an attack is thwarted the victim can still feel emotional trauma. She added: ?A woman feeling traumatised after an attempted attack could speak to anyone at the Women?s Resource Centre, or someone close to her, to express how she feels and it may help her deal with it.?