Middle-aged college professors from Virginia can be heroes, too!

Prof. Mark Moogalian, 51, from Midlothian, Va. Apparently he teaches English at the Sorbonne.

Telegraph (UK)

"Mr Moogalian, who lives in Paris but is originally from Midlothian, Virginia, US, is the previously unnamed man who came to the aid of “Damien A”, 28, a French banker who confronted El-Khazzani.

The academic acted instinctively to protect his wife Isabella Risacher, who was also aboard the Thalys train.

He tackled the Kalashnikov assault rifle off El-Khazzani, who then drew a sidearm and shot him in the neck before taking back the rifle, his sister has revealed.

Three other US citizens including two military personnel, and Chris Norman, a British businessman then stepped in to disarm and overpower the assailant.

Mr Moogalian’s sister Julia said: “He made sure his wife was hidden behind a seat. She watched the whole thing happen.

“He did manage to get the weapon away from the gunman.

“But the gunman then pulled another gun and shot my brother.

"There's a video of him saying 'help me' - he thought he was losing so much blood he would die.

"He's in extremely good shape - he cycles miles and runs - so we think that stood him well for this.

"The French President has reached out to ask him to come to dinner when he is fit enough."

The academic, a keen musician and cyclist, was shot in the back of the neck and the bullet passed through his body causing nerve damage, his sister said."