A FOX 12 photographer was attacked while out on a shoot in downtown Vancouver Monday night.

Reporter Jamie Wilson and photographer Pete Franzen were working on a news story for "The 10 O'Clock News" when two men started harassing them, asking to be on TV.

"I said, 'Sorry, we're on a deadline,' and waved them away. They were obviously drunk and I kind of wanted to get them away from the van," said Wilson.

The men left but came back a short time later and urinated on the crew's van, said Wilson.

Franzen said he confronted the men and that's when one of them, later identified as Eugene Nerton, hit him in the face and he fell to the ground.

Witnesses said Nerton then kicked and stomped on Franzen's back.

Two men, Clay Jenkins and Paul Swanson, who were in a bar nearby, ran to help when they noticed Nerton carrying a knife, they said.

"I saw the knife. I called 'knife' and Clay picked up the sign," said Swanson.

Jenkins said he picked up a sandwich board and started swinging it at Nerton, hitting him in the face twice.

"I tried to keep some distance and just try to get the knife out of his hand but he wasn't letting go and he wasn't backing down," said Jenkins.

Nerton appeared in court on Tuesday to face several charges.

FOX 12 has learned that Nerton has a lengthy criminal history. Wilson and Franzen said without the Good Samaritans stepping in, Nerton may have taken things further.

"I had no idea he was armed. I did not know he had a knife and I do not know what would have happened if they hadn't come in the street," said Wilson.

Franzen suffered a black eye, sore back and several cuts and bruises, but he is expected to be OK.

FOX 12 Crew Attacked In Downtown Vancouver