Bondi Junction stabbing attack: Update on baby who was stabbed – as mum died protecting her

An update has been provided on the nine-month-old baby girl who was stabbed in the Westfield Bondi Junction knife attack after her mum died protecting her.

Harriet’s mother, Ashlee Good, 38, was among six innocent shoppers who were killed in the horrific random attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday.

The baby was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick in a critical condition on Saturday night.

NSW health minister Ryan Park revealed on Monday Harriet’s condition had improved. 

‘No doubt our country has been holding its breath to see how the little baby, nine-month-old child, is going at Randwick Hospital,’ he said.

‘And this morning I asked for an update around how that baby was tracking, in terms of her condition.

‘I was delighted to be informed she has been moved from critical to serious.

‘That’s a big change and a significant improvement.’ 

The update came after Ms Good’s family issued a statement on Sunday afternoon.

‘Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round outstanding human and so much more,’ it read.

‘We appreciate the well-wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.’

The dying mother threw her injured baby into the arms of two strangers and selflessly begged them to help the infant.

The hero who took the baby was identified on Nine News shortly after the tragedy.

‘The baby got stabbed and yeah, the mum got stabbed,’ he said. ‘The mum came over with the baby and threw it at me.’

The man said he used clothes from a store to try to stem the baby’s bleeding.

‘I just helped by holding the baby… and trying to compress the baby,’ he said.

The two brothers stayed with the mother as they waited for emergency services.

Just hours before the horror unfolded, Ms Good posted a photo to Instagram with her daughter in her arms.

Ms Good was one of six people killed, including five women and one man. Additionally, 12 others, including baby Harriet, were seriously wounded before knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by police.

Investigations continue and a lengthy coronial inquiry will examine the violent and horrific crime but the mentally ill attacker’s motive might never be conclusively known, NSW premier Chris Minns said.

‘The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of women in NSW hospitals and women were targeted by this attacker,’ he said.

‘It’s been a terrible day, a terrible weekend for Sydney and NSW and there’s millions of people that are grieving at the moment.’

Among the victims was Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of multi-millionaire businessman John Singleton, along with architect Jade Young, 47, security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, and artist Pikria Darchia, 55.

The identity of the sixth victim, 27-year-old Chinese woman Yixuan Cheng, was revealed on Monday. 

Cauchi’s estranged family said they were devastated by his actions, expressing sorrow for the people he killed.

‘Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,’ they said in a statement.

‘He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.’

His family added they had no issue with a police officer, Inspector Amy Scott, shooting their son, saying she was only doing her job.

Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow, whose company owns the shopping centre, offered condolences to the family of Mr Tahir, praising his bravery and that of another security worker who was injured in the attack.