So everyone on the streets that night was nervous knowing that the police had lethal force authorized, and for the first time every group of policemen had one or two carrying actual rifles. Other than that, the police usually carry a very simple and very old fashion revolver, but now they had actual semiautomatic rifles.

So when the police threw these flash-bangs, everyone thought live rounds had been fired. I was standing there. I later talked to a reporter from Texas who was standing there. We’re Americans. He’s from Texas. We all know what a gun sounds like, and we both thought it might’ve been live rounds.

When those went off, the protesters stampeded. They scattered. And there were probably about 200 in this group. This was at an intersection, so they went off in three ways while the police held the opposite road. And the police ran into the crowd with their batons and nightsticks absolutely beating anyone they caught, whether they resisted or not, just beating them to a pulp.

Being first aid with a red cross on my best, they typically run right by me. And there was a young Hong Kong first aid girl who was standing next to me, and they ran right by both of us. As soon as they were by, we ducked and went back through an alley hoping to get to where the protesters were on the backside.

When we came out of that alley, immediately on our right was a narrow pass between a subway station entrance and the main building about 2-and-a-half yards wide, 3 yards wide. Hundreds of people had tried to run for their lives through that narrow passage. It had become a bottleneck. One person tripped, the next person fell on him, and there were 25 to 30 young kids, teenagers, in an absolute pileup.

The boys at the bottom probably had 600 to 900 pounds of force being exerted on them. They were being crushed. I’m sure their internal organs were being destroyed. One’s eyes were rolling back in his head. They were gasping for breath. They were writhing, they were dying, they were suffocating.

When we arrived, it was just me and this very, very petite Cantonese girl. We went in and began to try to pull them out, and it was nearly impossible. The force holding these kids in was like their lower bodies had been trapped in a vice.

Other first aiders got there. The bigger and stronger ones of them got in, and we continued to try to pull them out. There was a fire probably 3 yards away, small fire. Firefighters arrived to put that out, saw the situation, and immediately came to join us in rescuing the kids. …

I’ve never had something so hard to do as pulling these kids out. It took every ounce of strength that any of us had, and we got one out. We got two, three, four, five. I think we got about six kids out. They were able to run away. They came out limp. They couldn’t even stand up when they came out. You had to pick them up, put them on their feet, shout at them to run, and they would stumble off as fast as they could.

The police came around the corner and saw what was happening, came in screaming, beating their batons on their shields and on the walls, and grabbed us, and threw us back. They threw a Hong Kong girl that was first aid, despite being obviously first aid, they threw her to the ground on the hard pavement. And then we had to grab her and get back.

Then they pushed the firemen out of the way. And they went in and they beat these kids that were already half dead with their nightsticks and began to absolutely tear them out with no mercy, probably dislocating limbs, and shoved them against the wall and arrested them.

del Guidice: Man, at this point they’re essentially … in some cases, preventing first aid.

Howdeshell: Not in some cases. They will prevent first aid in any chance possible.

I’ve been blocked from getting into areas where there are casualties by the police. Then they also push the press away so the press could not document it, though, they were unsuccessful because [press] has documented it. So we don’t know yet, but it’s very possible somebody died there that night.

That’s the same night the police also ran their vans at high speed into crowds. We still don’t know if they actually hit or killed anyone yet … There’s so many rumors that fly around Hong Kong because tensions and emotions are so high. It’s often hard to know what to believe.

And there’s so many rumors of police violence and just extraordinary things, and you think, “No, that can’t be true.” But when you witness that and you witness the vans driving at people and you witness young kids, young kids, being beaten by men in uniform that are supposed to protect them, absolutely beat to the point where their bones are broken and their organs are destroyed, you take those rumors at face value, and you lose any sympathy or any ability to even feel sympathy for the police force.

I realize that’s a long story, but that’s what people need to realize is happening here in Hong Kong. That’s what these guys are up against.

del Guidice: No, that was great. Thank you so much for the vivid descriptions and for almost bringing us there, even though we aren’t there in person. Your vivid descriptions are really incredible. Before we close up and part ways, is there anything else, any final thoughts you want to share with listeners, people from around the country and the world who are listening?

Howdeshell: All I can say to say is say a prayer for Hong Kong and look at flights to come over. If you want to come over, I’ll help you out.

del Guidice: Cody, thank you so much for joining us today on The Daily Signal Podcast, taking time out of your busy day and speaking with us. We really do appreciate it.

Howdeshell: Always, Rachel. Thanks very much for having me on.

This article by Rachel del Guidice first appeared at the Daily Signal.

Image: Reuters.