Melbourne A Current Affair reporter Martin King has intervened and restrained a man who was filmed attacking his partner in central Melbourne on Friday.
As people around Australia were marking White Ribbon Day, the man was filmed attacking the woman in broad daylight on a central Melbourne street.
There was an incident between the pair before the woman could be seen doubled over in pain in the alcove of a building.
She could be seen sobbing as the man walks away before returning.
There was another violent exchange and the woman began walking away before being struck from behind.
King and two other bystanders who witnessed the incident rushed to restrain the man until police could detain him.
Kate O'Callaghan, who has been a victim of domestic violence and lived with similar abuse for five years, said the incident would shock people.
"It's heartbreaking, it's really shocking. For most people, you see that and you think, 'how can that possibly happen in the middle of the day in broad daylight on a busy street?'" Ms O'Callaghan told A Current Affair.
"You lose your confidence, you lose your total sense of being. You're not the person that you were. You become what they made you."
Ms O'Callaghan has applauded King for intervening.
"If you don't do something, you may as well be the one hitting her," she said.
Major Brendan Nottle of the Salvation Army says this type of behaviour from men on city streets is becoming a new norm.
"I think it's absolutely disgusting and the thing that's tragic about this is this is not unique," Major Nottle said.
"Men hitting women, met hitting men. This culture of violence is definitely on the increase, there's no question about that, and the amazing thing about that is that you stepped in and if you didn't step in, I don't know what would have happened."
A Current Affair confirmed the pair had been a couple but the woman now wants nothing more to do with the man.
Victoria Police expect to charge the man with at least one count of assault.