A survivor of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing has been reunited with the “angel” who saved her life.
Liya Barko, 35, was shopping for a volleyball on April 13 when Joel Cauchi stabbed her with a 30cm hunting knife during his terrifying attack that claimed the lives of five women and a security guard at the busy Sydney’s eastern shopping centre.
Ms Barko previously revealed the two terrifying words – “I’ll get you” – that Cauchi uttered after plunging her sword into his chest, narrowly missing his heart.
Days after leaving the hospital, the student this week launched a public appeal to locate the good Samaritan in a green T-shirt who took her to a store and closed the security door before applying pressure to her wound and providing first aid.
His quick thinking almost certainly saved Mrs. Barko’s life.
The identity of the man in the green shirt who saved Liya Barko’s life has been revealed as former soldier Wayne Tolver Banks. The couple is photographed together this week.
Liya Barko (pictured), 35, spent 10 days in intensive care after the attack.
Ms Barko spent the next 10 days in critical condition in intensive care and was only released from hospital a week ago.
She told Nine News on Monday of her desire to find the hero who rushed to her aid, “to at least give him a hug” and thank him.
A day later, former soldier Wayne Tolver Banks introduced himself as the Good Samaritan, causing an emotional reunion.
“Oh my God, I remembered you were so tall,” Barko said as the couple hugged each other.
“I’m so happy you’re alive,” Mr. Banks responded.
Liya Barko and Wayne Tolver Banks fought back tears during emotional reunion (pictured)
Ms Barko choked back tears of joy and relief as she described Mr Banks as “the angel who showed up at the right time and in the right place”.
Banks revealed that the crazed knife stared him dead in the eye before shaking his head, as if to say he wasn’t going to attack him.
He then lunged at Mrs. Barko and stabbed her.
It was at this time that Mr. Banks’ military training began to work.
“I knew right away what I had to do to take control of the situation and the area,” Mr. Banks told the student.
“I looked at you when I saw the man stabbing you and I immediately said to myself: I have to help you… I didn’t want you to die.”
Barko recalled that Mr. Banks’ wife also helped her keep fighting when she felt like giving up.
“Your wife was the person who started shaking me when I started saying ‘I want to give up’… she was the one who (told me) ‘You’re doing great,'” Ms. Barko said.
Barko previously revealed that after the horrific attack, Cauchi (pictured) looked at her and said: “I’ll get you,” before continuing his killing spree.
Mrs Barko, who worked part-time as a cleaner, was discharged from the hospital just a week ago.
“By some miracle, the knife narrowly missed his heart,” said Spencer Benjamin, who organized a GoFundMe page for her he wrote.
‘However, the incident resulted in a pierced stomach and liver, three broken ribs and severed arteries and veins.
“Surgeons fought not only to save his life but also to prevent lasting neurological damage, as his brain was deprived of oxygen during a critical period.”
Lone man Cauchi, 40, murdered six people and stabbed 12 more innocent shoppers during the terrifying rampage that shocked the world.
Their victims were Ash Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
