A hold up at a bar in Bruderheim, Alta., turned tragic for the robber when two patrons decided to intervene.
A waitress at the Bruderheim Hotel, who did not want to be identified, told CBC News a man entered the lounge through the back door at around 11 p.m. Wednesday.
He strolled up to the bar in a ski-type mask with what looked like a gun and ordered her to empty the till, she said.
She handed over the cash, about $500, to the man – who she estimated to be in his fifties or sixties, she said.
It was at that point two customers tackled the man, wrestling him onto a pool table.
By the time police arrived, the man was in critical condition, though police could not be certain why.
He was taken to hospital, but his condition did not improve, police said.
The gun turned out to be an imitation handgun.
Still, residents of the community praised the efforts of the patrons.
“Small little town like this – I’ve only been up here a few months – and this is a great little town,” said Graham Higgs, who said he knows one of the men involved in the fight. “What these couple guys did there is what more people should do.”
Aura Slacht also knows one of the men.
“I think he’s a brave soul,” she said. “Very brave soul.”
Johanne Sarazin said she hopes the men won’t end up facing charges themselves.
“They still put their lives on the line to save somebody else’s life.”
