NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
Police say a man attacked his wife with a meat cleaver in front of two firefighters who jumped into action and tackled him.
The firefighters were at the right place at the right time when one of them spotted the man dragging the woman and went across to intervene. But things turned violent fast as a security camera video captured the incident outside a store.
"We were working on the rigs getting them prepared for the day tour, I hear a commotion in the street, I look over there's a man dragging this woman, grabbing her by the arm, dragging her, she's crying and she's screaming," Firefighter Jose Ortiz, Engine Company 9, Ladder Company 6.
Oritz, an 18-year FDNY veteran, dashed across the street from his Chinatown firehouse to try to help the woman, but he was shocked at what happened next.
"He pulls the cleaver out of his waistband and starts hacking at this woman, I rush him, I'm, trying to grab the cleaver, but he's swinging."
A dramatic security camera video shows the man attacking the woman who has been identified as Jinyia You, 24. The video shows Ortiz and fellow firefighter James Trainor rush in and hold Ming Guang Huang, 28, back, it takes three of them to get the man restrained.
A witness tells Fox 5 the man kept screaming – "she's my wife."
You ran off, leaving her shoes and a bloodied sweater behind. The first responders say Huang hit her with the cleaver six or eight times.
"She was very disoriented -- very panicked."
Firefighter Shane Clarke ran after her as she fled the scene. First to a restaurant and eventually, further down Eldridge Street where the firemen were finally able to stop her.
"She was covered in blood we were trying to make sure she wouldn't fall over -- she was very disoriented," said Clarke.
The firefighters started bandaging the woman until the ambulance arrived. By then the police were already there and took the man into custody.
The disturbing scene -- all in a day's work for New York City's bravest.
"We come across all kinds of stuff in our career our first reaction is always what can we do to help -- today was the same thing," said Ortiz.
You was taken to Bellevue Hospital where she's listed in stable condition. Huang was also taken to the hospital for a laceration.
He faces several charges including attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment.
