Especially when you are wrestling with a drugged up fugitive who is trying to steal your car.
Dr Thame said he attempted to drag Smith from the Astra and punched him on the nose before his arm slipped beneath Smith's armpit and into a headlock. He told the inquest that Smith suddenly stopped struggling while a neighbour screamed nearby. Dr Thame said: 'The neighbour said the man was unconscious. I released him immediately.' Senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney concluded that Smith's death had been accidental.
At least he wasn’t arrested, this time.
Mr Spinney praised Dr Thame's actions, describing them as courageous and carried out in self-defence while protecting family members and neighbours.He also said post-mortem evidence showed excessive force had not been used by Dr Thame. The inquest heard Smith had taken a combination of drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, before the incident unfolded.
But the neighbour was still happy to try to stick the boot in:
Dr Thame and neighbour Deborah Day then attempted CPR after discovering Smith was not breathing.Mrs Day had previously claimed in a statement that Dr Thame placed his knee on Smith's neck, although Geoff disputed this account, saying his son's feet were still outside the car.
Great neighbour she turned out to be! I know who I’d rather live next door to!
Day told the hearing that Dr Thame put Smith in a headlock, 'but did not intend to kill the man', adding that his actions may have saved her own life by preventing Smith from driving towards her.
And he must now be wondering why he bothered.

