AI Generated Summary
- A 33-year-old Indian-origin man is recovering in hospital after a horrifying machete attack by a group of teenagers in Melbourne, which left him with life-threatening injuries, including a nearly severed hand.
- “One boy was punching me repeatedly in the head, another rummaged through my pockets, and then a third placed a machete at my throat,” Anand recalled from his hospital bed.
- He also sustained deep wounds to his shoulder and back and suffered head injuries, fractures in his left arm, and a spinal fracture.
A 33-year-old Indian-origin man is recovering in hospital after a horrifying machete attack by a group of teenagers in Melbourne, which left him with life-threatening injuries, including a nearly severed hand.
Saurabh Anand, who resides in Altona Meadows, was attacked on the evening of July 19 while walking home after buying medicines at a local pharmacy in Central Square Shopping Centre. According to reports, a group of teenagers ambushed him from behind, shoved him to the ground, and launched a frenzied assault.
“One boy was punching me repeatedly in the head, another rummaged through my pockets, and then a third placed a machete at my throat,” Anand recalled from his hospital bed.
The situation quickly turned violent as Anand tried to shield himself. “I raised my arm to protect my face, and that’s when the machete sliced through my wrist. The next blow went straight through my hand, and the third strike cut into the bone,” he said. He also sustained deep wounds to his shoulder and back and suffered head injuries, fractures in his left arm, and a spinal fracture.
“I was tumbling on the ground, half-conscious. My hand was literally hanging by a thread. All I wanted was to survive,” he said.
Passersby discovered Anand bleeding outside the shopping centre and called emergency services. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors initially considered amputating his left hand. However, after hours of complex surgery involving screws in his wrist and hand, surgeons managed to reattach it.
Teenage Suspects Arrested
Police have arrested several teenagers in connection with the attack.
- A 14-year-old boy has been charged with multiple offences, including intentionally causing serious injury, robbery, and unlawful assault. He remains in custody and is expected to appear before the Children’s Court on August 15.
- Two 15-year-old boys have been charged with similar offences and have been released on bail. They are scheduled to face court on August 11.
- Another 14-year-old boy from the Hobsons Bay area has also been arrested and is expected to be charged soon.
Anand, who expressed shock that two of the attackers remain free on bail, said, “I’m seeking justice. I don’t want anyone else in the community to go through what I’ve endured.”
Rising Knife Violence in Melbourne
The attack comes amid growing concerns over youth crime and knife-related violence in Victoria. The day after Anand’s assault, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed at Broadmeadows Central Shopping Centre, about 30 kilometres away.
Victoria is currently facing its highest youth crime rates since electronic records began. In March, the state government introduced stricter bail laws aimed at cracking down on repeat offenders. Premier Jacinta Allan has pledged that the reforms will establish the “toughest bail test in the country.”
Meanwhile, Anand continues to recover from his injuries, undergoing multiple surgeries as he tries to regain movement in his reattached hand.
