Bondi Rescue star Andrew Reid is being hailed a hero after refusing evacuation orders to go and help stabbing victims at Westfield shopping centre: ‘I have never seen so much blood’
Bondi Rescue star Andrew Reid was shopping for a new bed when a frantic retail worker told him ‘people are being stabbed’ and ‘the building is being evacuated’.
The reality of the situation dawned when gunshots rang out across the Bondi Junction Westfield complex about 3:30pm on Saturday, sparking panic and fear.
The shutters at Myers came down to protect those inside, but as Reid looked out across the shopping centre to the fourth floor below, he saw a woman lying on the ground in desperate need of help.
Without hesitation, the brave father-of-three asked to be let out so he could go and provide first aid.
Bondi Rescue star Andrew Reid is being hailed a hero for helping stabbing victims at Bondi Junction shopping centre
‘There was a lady… and there was just blood everywhere,’ Reid told 9News.
‘I realised I had to go and help because that’s what we’re trained to do as lifeguards.’
He and two other members of the public gave the woman first aid, along with police officers.
‘I have never seen so much blood… We were just looking for wounds, trying to stem the bleeding,’ Reid recounted.
‘As I looked up, there were just multiple victims, about 50m apart. The lady next to us was in a really bad way – there were others working on her.’
The knifeman, dressed in a kangaroos rugby league jersey, had attacked nine people, including a baby, in what appears to be a random stabbing spree.
Six victims are now dead and there are fears for others who remain in hospital.
His rampage eventually came to an end when a brave female police inspector single-handedly confronted the man and shot him dead.
Without hesitation, the brave father-of-three asked to be let out so he could go and provide first aid
Tactical police are pictured with long-arm weapons
Among the first attacked were allegedly a woman and her baby (not pictured)
Paramedics are pictured rushing a victim to an ambulance
The ordeal eventually came to an end when a heroic female cop leaped into action and shot the knifeman dead (scene pictured)
Once Reid had helped to stabilise the woman, he continued to move through the shopping centre to help others.
At this time, tactical police were storming the building going floor by floor to secure the scene.
‘I saw police needed help with the other lady so I started doing compressions on her. I don’t think she made it,’ Reid said.
‘Then I went to help the next victim and saw an empty pram. I have three young kids and just though oh my god.’
While Reid is no stranger to life and death situations, he admitted he’s never experienced anything so traumatic.
‘I have seen some pretty gnarly stuff after working for 20 years on the beach, but nothing like this.’
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