A courageous mother desperately tried to protect her 9-month-old baby as she fought off a knife-wielding madman before thrusting her wounded child into the arms of a stranger during Saturday’s attack at a shopping mall in Sydney.
The mother, identified by local media as 38-year-old Ash Good, died of her wounds – the sixth victim killed in the attack, authorities said.
The little girl, identified as 9-month-old Harriet, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she had emergency surgery for her injuries.
Six victims, including five women, died during the stabbing spree, which sent shoppers fleeing for their lives at about 3:20 p.m. Saturday at Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Center.
“The mom got stabbed, and the mom came over with the baby and threw it at me, and I was holding the baby,” one witness told 9News Sydney.
Little Harriet, who appeared to have been stabbed in the stomach, remained in serious condition late Saturday, News.com.au reported.
The men then tried to help both victims, frantically trying to stanch the bleeding, they recalled.
“There’s a lot of blood on the floor,” one unnamed witness said.
Sky News anchor Laura Jayes, who knew Good personally, described her as a “beautiful” young mother whose life was unnecessarily cut short.
“She has a beautiful circle of friends,” Jayes said during a live report Saturday. “She’s a beautiful woman. She was an incredible athlete, and she had the world at her feet.”
Good had gotten married in recent years, Jayes said.
“Her family are on their way — rushing here now,” she continued. “So many family and friends wanted to be at the hospital this afternoon, they had to take turns going in and out of the waiting room.”
Witnesses said a 40-year-old man in a rugby jersey started randomly stabbing shoppers before he was confronted by a lone female police officer, who killed him with a single shot to the chest, New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke said.
An investigation is ongoing, but the incident is not believed to be terrorism-related and authorities think the suspect acted alone.
King Charles III — who is the head of state of Australia — and Prince William and Kate Middleton issued statements praising the first responders — and expressing condolences.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack,” the monarch said — adding praise on the first responders who were on the scene.
“We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today,” Prince William and Kate said.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others
Michael Dunkley, a café owner, said he saw a female officer shoot the suspect after yelling for him to “drop the knife” as he charged toward her with a six-inch blade.
“She was put in a situation where she had to do it,” Dunkley told News.com.au. “She did it so calmly. She was amazing.”
Two victims were stabbed near a sporting goods store on the mall’s fourth floor, while others were attacked outside a Zara clothing shop. The suspect, clad in a green rugby jersey, then dashed down a set of escalators, another witness said.
“This guy was out of his mind, properly on drugs,” he said. “He was stumbling.”
The incident marked the deadliest mass killing in Australia’s largest city since 11 people died in an arson attack at Quakers Hill Nursing Home in 2011, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The suspect, who stabbed shoppers at random, has had previous interactions with police, authorities said.
