A woman stabbed in the chest in a blood-curdling attack in broad daylight has broken her silence.
Wan-Ting Lai, 36, was attacked while walking to work at 7.40am on October 2 in Melbourne’s central business district.
CCTV footage showed Ms Lai being attacked from behind by an individual who stabbed her in the chest before fleeing the scene.
Lauren Darul, 32, who was on bail at the time of the incident, has been arrested in connection to the alleged attack.
Wan-Ting Lai was attacked while walking to work on October 2 in Melbourne’s central business district
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The suspect is intending to launch another application for bail next week.
After hearing about the bail application, Ms Lai told Daily Mail: “I’m still recovering physically and emotionally, and I truly hope the justice system prioritises community safety.”
A fortnight after the terrifying ordeal, the alleged victim said she is “still relying on painkillers” to manage the pain from the injuries.
Ms Lai continued: “After returning home, I’m reluctant to think about the incident, and I’m still having trouble leaving the house alone.”
Lauren Darul, 32, has been arrested in connection to the alleged attack
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On social media, she said has been left too terrified to return to the area where the incident took place.
She wrote: “My familiar living environment no longer gives me the comfort I once had.
“I loved this neighbourhood and lived there for over four years, but now, because of this incident, I’m so scared that even walking around here makes me nervous.
“My heart races, and I think even the sound of footsteps behind me is dangerous.”
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Describing the moment she was allegedly attacked by the “homeless woman”, Ms Lai said: “I was walking on Little Bourke Street, near the back of the Higher Ground building, when I was stabbed.
“It was early in the morning, and the streets were deserted. The stab wound to my right chest caused a hemothorax (collapsed lung).
“Fortunately, a woman across the street witnessed the entire incident and immediately ran over to help me apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.”
Bystanders rushed to help the injured sushi chef as she waited for police and ambulance to arrive to the scene.
Ms Lai was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she spent three days before she was able to walk independently
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Ms Lai was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she spent three days before she was able to walk independently to the toilet.
She revealed even the short trip from her hospital bed to the bathroom left her feeling “breathless and exhausted”.
The sushi chef added: “I’ve also had trouble eating these past few days, unable to chew properly. I can only manage liquids, which fill my throat after just two or three mouthfuls, and the resulting hiccups cause a throbbing pain in my right chest.
“I’ve been confined to bed most of the time, recuperating, and it might take a while.”
