Disturbing security footage reveals a sushi chef being unexpectedly attacked by a homeless woman as he made his way to work.
Twenty-six-year-old Wang Lai was walking along a sidewalk in downtown Melbourne when a red-haired woman approached him from behind, tapped his shoulder, and then stabbed him in the chest with a knife.
The video shows Lai sitting on the ground in shock, visibly distressed and holding his chest, while a bystander rushed over to offer assistance by giving him their coat.
He was taken to the hospital, where he recovered for three days after suffering a punctured lung.
The attacker, 32-year-old Lauren Dural, was apprehended shortly after the incident on the morning of October 2. She now faces charges for causing bodily harm with intent and for committing a crime while on bail. The police also found the knife used in the assault.
Lai’s family indicated that he now fears going outside and has even relocated from the area.
“He’s living in fear now. Always looking over his shoulder,” his sister Ivana shared with 7News in Australia.
She expressed concern about how he’s unable to handle people coming up behind him, saying it makes him anxious.
Ivana remarked that he was fortunate the knife didn’t hit any vital organs.
Dural had been staying in a nearby public shelter and was on probation for previous theft attempts at the time of the incident.
She has applied for bail and is set to have a hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
In a social media post the day after the attack, Lai expressed gratitude to those who helped him, noting their swift actions had bought him “precious time.” He reflected, saying this event emphasized the fragility of life.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described the attack as “sickening” this week.
“No one who commits such brazen and violent acts on our streets should be on our streets,” she stated.
