A 14-year-old boy who came to the aid of a woman allegedly being assaulted by her partner in western Sydney says “I did what any person should do and stepped in”.

The boy was on the bus in Riverstone on Friday afternoon when he saw a man and woman involved in an argument on the footpath. The man then allegedly punched the woman repeatedly in the face.

He quickly got off the bus and approached the man, refusing to leave the scene. The 32-year-old man allegedly responded by grabbing the teen by the throat and pushing him away until others intervened.

“The fact no one was doing anything else about it at the time ... I did what any person should do and stepped in,” the boy, who used the alias Hunter, told reporters on Saturday.

The man left with the 27-year-old woman in a car but was arrested nearby a short time later.

The Bidwell man has since been charged with domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

He appeared before Parramatta local court on Saturday and was refused bail to face Blacktown Local Court on Wednesday.

Police commended the 14-year-old for his bravery.

“He showed courage and determination well beyond his years. We certainly need more people like this in the community who stand up and speak out against domestic violence,” Detective Chief Inspector David Miller said.