Melbourne attack victim's son was visiting for cancer treatment, uncle reveals

A woman and her son, who were visiting Melbourne for the child's cancer treatment, became the victims of a random violent attack in the city's central business district. The woman sustained multiple stab wounds and a fractured leg, while her 10-year-old son was punched. Her brother, Kirk Holt, shared that the family was in Melbourne for the son's regular scans, which thankfully came back clear despite initial fears the attack could have caused complications.

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She's very sore. Recovering. They finally stitched up the last of her wounds last night. She's been very sore though.

Holt described his sister as "very sore" and "very stressed" but "a very tough lady." He also noted the profound impact on the children, who are "missing mum" and "really worried about how she is." The boys are also reportedly "very wary about people walking along the street" following the incident.

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She's a very tough lady but she's very stressed.

The attack, which occurred near Victoria Police Headquarters, has amplified concerns about safety in Melbourne's CBD. Holt stated, "It really worries me the way the city is going at the moment. There is a lot of violent crime happening out there." He questioned the city's reputation as "one of the top, most liveable cities on earth" if residents are "scared to go out on the streets."

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They were in Melbourne for their regular routine of getting scans to see how things were going when the incident happened.

Data from the Crime Statistics Agency indicates over 2,100 recorded assaults and related offenses in the Melbourne local government area in the year to March 2026, fueling anxieties about the city's safety.

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After the attack we were afraid that it could have caused extra issues.