Patrick Hutchinson: ‘A Simple Act Has Turned My Life Upside Down’

A doting grandfather, Patrick Hutchinson started off his Saturday looking after his grandchildren - a nice gesture ahead of his daughter’s birthday. By the end of that same weekend, he was headline news, his picture splayed across the nation’s papers. Photographed carrying a white protestor, slung over his shoulder, through the crowd at an anti-racism protest in London, the iconic image went viral.

'It’s a bit surreal,' says the 49-year old from South London who has since been inundated by requests for interviews. Hundreds of people from across the world have sent him messages, whilst the nearby park where he’s been having socially distanced meetings with television crews and press photographers is fast becoming his ‘office’. He mentions that he’s also just met with the Reuter’s photographer who took the picture: 'He was quite emotional about it really, because obviously people are saying this is going to be a real iconic photo for years to come.'

It was a WhatsApp message from his friend Pierre Noah, 47, that persuaded Patrick to attend the protest. 'I wouldn’t have gone up there if he hadn’t of asked me to be honest. But the call came and I said, "I’ll go support my brothers and back them up".' Along with three other pals - who he describes as 'knowing how to look after themselves' - they headed down to the protest knowing clashes between Black Lives Matter supporters and members of the far-right would be inevitable: 'We had a feeling something bad was going to happen and yeah, it did.'

'I was the last person to get involved funnily enough,' he says recounting the ensuing events.

Having spotted a clash between BLM protestors and English Defence League (EDL) supporters, Patrick and Pierre, along with their friends Jamaine Facey, 43, Chris Otokito, 37, and Lee Russell, 37 rushed over without a word said between them. Despite being the focus of the famous image, Patrick says he was the last out of the group to see what was going on.

'There was a Rastafarian gentleman that was standing over him and shielding him from the onslaught, but obviously he wasn’t going to be able to hold them for long. It was absolute mayhem,' he recalls. His friends created a protective ring as Patrick scooped up the man, fireman lifted him and walked away. It’s clear that he doesn’t want to take all the praise and is keen to make sure his friends’ efforts are also recognised.

'I know it’s a cliche, but I don’t feel like a hero. A simple act has just turned my life upside down, at least for a few weeks,' he says over the phone, a tinge of tiredness to his voice. It’s Monday evening and he’s only just got in from his park ‘office’ - in a few hours time he has an interview with Australian breakfast TV lined up. 'It’s crazy what pictures and video footage can do now.'

Did the man he rescued say anything to him? 'No. He was intoxicated [and] slightly concussed so he was out of it. He had no idea what had happened.' He hasn’t heard from the man and has no particular desire to speak to him: 'If he’s got anything he’d wish to say to me or any of the guys, that would be interesting to hear - if it was anything positive- but apart from that I don’t really have much to say to him.'

Amongst the positive messages he’s been receiving are flirty notes from women teasing that 'he can fireman lift them anytime' he says with a big laugh. Whilst 95% of messages are positive, there have been some negative responses. 'Some people have said stuff like "there you go, still a slave’", "saving the slave master" and "when are we going to learn? You’re saving them but they kill us",' he explains. But he hasn’t got time for that: 'I know it exists, I know it’s going to be out there but I don’t need to see it.'

As well as being a father of three daughters and a son, Patrick is a grandfather of four and a well-loved coach at Hercules Wimbledon Athletics Club, where pre-lockdown he was training young sprinters. 'When you’re a coach or a teacher, you are a role model, so I do feel that sense of responsibility,' he says, before adding modestly: 'They all seem to be quite proud of me.'

'I speak their slang, I understand things, I have a lot of banter with them so they can see that you can be hip and cool but still give the tea and do the right thing, even in the face of adversity where it’s easier to do somebody harm.'

He’d like the enduring message of the photograph to be one of kindness and the power of good deeds. His hopes for the future, for his children and other youngsters, are of a level playing field and equality for all. 'I mean, we all know that the system is sort of rigged for black people to fail to be honest, so yeah we want the same opportunities for our children and grandchildren as white people have.'

Speak to any of his friends, colleagues or the number of journalists that have dealt with him over the last few days and you’ll hear them talk of how humble Patrick is. 'A true gent,' said one news editor. He clearly doesn’t hold onto negativity either.

'If you do [hold onto anger], it ends up eating you up doesn’t it? Then you’re letting it affect you as well and it can do things to you mentally and physically so the best thing to do is just to let it all go and not let it trouble you. I think we’ve been good at that over the years, black people.'

When he was younger he experienced 'a lot' of prejudice and racism but explains that now he doesn’t come across it so openly. 'It’s normally covert'.

'I think what I’ve done throughout my life is to sort of show that I’m not the stereotype whatever that’s supposed to be...I’ve purposely put myself in a place to say I can speak as well as you, or I can do this as well as you so don’t fear me and don’t be prejudiced towards me.'

Doesn’t that frustrate him? He sighs, 'Yes, it does. It’s very frustrating. You can’t always be who you might want to be because you’re going to be perceived a certain way.'

He believes the government need to do more to make genuine changes to society and would like to see more people of colour in prominent roles, from the boardroom to the FA and the judicial system. 'Things need to be overhauled.'

But the image that has catapulted him to fame and has been lauded as one of the most defining images of the BLM movement, has sparked hope and positivity for Patrick. 'I’m starting to believe what people are saying, that this is really going to make a difference potentially and break down barriers. [That] it’s going to be iconic. I’m actually starting to believe it, because I haven’t really had a chance for it to all sink in.'