A young woman shared her story of fighting off a sex offender in a public bathroom in Seattle. Kelly Herron’s inspiring story has sparked a boom in women’s self-defense classes.
Herron was preparing for a marathon when she stopped to use the restroom in Golden Gardens Park. A man hiding in a bathroom stall, surprised her, threw her to the ground and tried to sexually assault her, according to the police report.
Because Herron attended a self-defense training at her workplace three weeks prior to the March 5 incident she was able to defend herself and locked her male attacker in the bathroom where he was arrested.
Herron suffered a gash above her eyebrow and bruises on her face and arms, she escaped by punching and clawing back.
The female jogger posted images of her injuries from the brutal assault onto social media and detailed her experience. The post went viral with positive responses from women feeling empowered and encouraged.
After publicity about the attack, women have flocked to attend the same self-defense course that helped Herron. Jordan Giarratano, owner of Fighting Chance Seattle, the karate and kickboxing school that trained Herron, said internet searches for the course have increased tenfold.
At a special free course on Tuesday (March 29), more than 200 women came to learn self-defense and meet Herron.
