“I didn’t try to understand, I went there”: a 17-year-old Mosellan honored for having rescued two elderly people

A young Mosellan received, this Thursday, November 14, the medal of honor for an act of courage and dedication from the hands of the sub-prefect of Thionville, Philippe Deschamps. Léon Kreutzer, this 17-year-old high school student at Notre-Dame-de-la-Providence, intervened last April when two elderly people were attacked in the street in Thionville. It is he who made the attacker flee and alerted the emergency services.

A scene which takes place on the banks of the Moselle, while Léon Kreutzer was returning from high school. “I saw an individual who made a sudden gesture. This caught my attention and I saw that he was trying to attack an elderly couple. I rushed straight away, dropped my bike and “screaming” made the attacker flee, says the high school student. “It was not theft, it was purely out of malice”estimates the teenager. One of the victims was slightly injured by a cutter blowbut the intervention of Léon Kreutzer undoubtedly made it possible to avoid the worst. The young man then stayed with the couple until help arrived.

An act of bravery which explains the award of this medal. “I am very honored“he admits with emotion. “I found it rather normal. And above all it was very spontaneous. I didn't try to understand, I went for it. I jumped in, you could say.”