Dad killed in front of children revealed as 'Good Samaritan' trying to help stranger

South Yorkshire Police have launched a murder investigation in Sheffield after Christian Marriott was killed in an alleged car ram attack, as it emerged he had rushed to give a woman first aid

A Good Samaritan was killed in front of his children in a 'car ram' attack after a fight broke out at an engagement party, a neighbour has claimed.

Christian Marriott had been on a post-Christmas walk with his family when he jumped in to help a woman lying unconscious on a street in Sheffield on Wednesday afternoon. The 46-year-old dad, the woman he was helping and several others were then struck by a car, police said. Chris died and one of the injured people remains in a serious condition in hospital on Thursday.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident at the junction of College Court and College Close in the Burngreave area of Sheffield on Wednesday afternoon. South Yorkshire Police said he is continuing to be held for questioning on Thursday along with a 55-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

In an update naming Mr Marriott on Thursday evening, police said: "Christian, known as Chris, was out for a post-Christmas family walk with his wife and two young sons, aged eight and six, when it is reported he saw a woman lying unconscious in the street on College Close in Burngreave just after 2pm. It is believed the woman had been involved in an altercation between a group of people.

"Chris is then said to have left his family and stopped to provide first aid to the woman, before the car then collided with Chris, the woman and a number of others. Several other people suffered injuries during the incident including an off-duty midwife, who had also stopped to help."

Eyewitness Tarek Nayli, who lives in a house overlooking the scene, said he had looked outside to see "one, possibly two" people under a car and an injured man and woman in the street. Another man had "blood on his face", the 49-year-old businessman claimed. He told MailOnline: "We heard a lot of noise then all these people came out from the house who were fighting. The people fighting were all men.

"When I went outside, everything seemed to have happened with the car." Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, claimed there had been "an engagement party at a house" and that an argument broke out. The resident said: "We were told the bloke who died may not have been involved in the argument at all and was just in the wrong place. It's very tragic." Various residents have backed claims that a party had been going on at the time of the fatal collision.

Police meanwhile have launched a murder probe over the altercation which broke out in the Burngreave area of Sheffield on Wednesday afternoon. A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "At 2.06pm, emergency services were called to College Close following reports of violence and disorder. As the call was underway, a car collided with a group of people.

"A 46-year-old man died at the scene and numerous others are injured, with one person in a serious condition in hospital. The man’s next of kin has been informed and is currently being supported by officers. A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and another man, aged 55, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Both are in police custody."

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Andrew Knowles said:"This is an utterly heartbreaking case in which a Good Samaritan, who had stepped in to help a stranger in their time of need, has lost his life. Chris leaves behind a loving family including his devastated wife and two young sons. We are absolutely determined to secure justice for Chris and his loved ones following this horrific tragedy.

"Increased patrols will continue in the area in the coming days and local people will continue to see officers carrying out enquiries, including going house-to-house to gather witness statements. There are people in that community who hold information which is vital to our investigation and have not yet given statements. I want to be able to get to the bottom of what happened for Chris and his family. I need those people with information to do the right thing. If you don't want to talk to us directly, you can use Crimestoppers and remain 100 per cent anonymous."