EXCLUSIVE
A heroic good Samaritan who was allegedly cut by a knife while trying to save a woman’s life has been released from hospital.
Paul Sargeant, 67, allegedly suffered a 20cm gash to his abdomen after being attacked with a box cutter in the alleged stabbing attack in Engadine, south of Sydney, shortly before 9am on Sunday.
Chaos erupted when Antony Benson, 57, allegedly stabbed his partner, a 48-year-old woman, multiple times in the neck and chest after she “changed the radio station” as they drove along Old Bush Road in a white 2013 Jaguar XF.
He then allegedly crashed into a blue Mitsubishi Lancer as they turned onto the Princes Highway, before cutting off Mr Sargeant as he ran to help the couple.
Benson then allegedly stabbed himself with the knife and stabbed a police officer before being tasered and arrested. He has been charged with eight offences and remains in Liverpool Hospital receiving treatment for serious injuries.
Mr Sargeant suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he required several stitches to his abdomen.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, the father-of-two’s wife Beverley said he is now at home recovering from his injuries.
“It’s okay,” he said.
Paul Sargeant (pictured with his wife Beverley) was injured in the alleged stabbing attack on Sunday.
Steve Mace (far left) was one of the witnesses who prevented the alleged attacker (right) from re-entering the car, where the seriously injured man’s partner was sitting.
“We have a very close family that supports him and everything is going well.”
In total, six people were treated by paramedics after the alleged stabbing, including two for injuries related to a car crash and four for suspected stab wounds.
Passersby reported running to the car after the crash and allegedly found the 48-year-old woman suffering from stab wounds.
Witnesses claim Benson was ranting and spouting conspiracies before allegedly turning the knife on himself and slashing his wrists and neck. He was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition, but has since been downgraded to serious but stable.
Benson’s partner was rushed to St George’s Hospital in a critical condition but her condition has since been downgraded to serious but stable.
The 20-year-old female driver of the Lancer suffered a fractured wrist, her male passenger suffered minor injuries and Officer Campbell Fordyce suffered wrist lacerations.
Cronulla Sharks chief executive Steven Mace, who was on his way to a football match when he witnessed the accident, was also allegedly assaulted as he rushed to the aid of the 48-year-old woman.
Superintendent Donald Faulds praised the heroic actions of bystanders who were allegedly attacked while trying to save the woman’s life.
‘They showed up thinking it was a traffic accident, so they were obviously going to help both people, and then they (supposedly) came across a box cutter.
Pictured: Antony Benson with his partner, 48, before his alleged attack on Sunday.
The suspected stabber (pictured) was heard ranting about “conspiracy theories” after the alleged stabbing attack and crash.
A blue and white sedan was involved in the crash in Sydney’s south.
“It’s quite scary, but also very, very brave.”
On Monday, Benson was charged with including grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder in domestic violence cases, wounding a person with intent to resist or prevent arrest, reckless wounding, dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He is also charged with failing to stop and render assistance following a vehicle collision, affray and obstructing or resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty.
Benson was due to appear at Sutherland Local Court at 3pm on Monday but his solicitor requested an adjournment because his client was unconscious in Liverpool Hospital.
Magistrate Philip Stewart suggested the matter be adjourned until Tuesday when Benson was awake, but the barrister said that was not possible because he would be in surgery.
The issue resurfaced in Sutherland on Thursday, and was raised again at Sydney’s Downing Centre on October 22.
