Helen Haines’ first words to bystanders after alleged attack revealed
One witness who rushed to help MP Helen Haines after she was hit by a car outside of her electoral office has revealed that she was thanking the people who helped her, and talked about her grandchildren.
Haines, member for Indi in Victoria, was critically injured after being hit multiple times by a car allegedly driven by Ben Nugent, 43, outside her electoral office in Wangaratta on Monday.
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Several bystanders rushed to help her, and two of them spoke to the Today Show, revealing what Haines said to those who were trying to help her.
“She was thanking us, it was incredible,” Jacklyn Black said.
Cody Lepoivedin, Jacob Evans, and Jackie were on the scene of the Helen Haines alleged attack. Today
“We were having conversations, she was talking about her grandkids, I was just keeping her talking to us.”
Cody Lepoivedin, who was working across the street when he heard the initial crash, said Haines was “very distraught” but remained composed.
“She was very thankful to the aid that the community had given her,” he told Today.
“She just thanked everyone, said they were ‘lovely people.’”
Haines remains in a critical condition in hospital. Alex Ellinghausen
Haines’ first words to bystanders were “Thank you, you lovely people,” reported The Herald Sun.
While some bystanders looked to apprehend the alleged offender, others, like Jacob Evans - Jacklyn’s partner - looked to treat Haines’ serious leg injuries.
“I was lucky enough to have a tourniquet in my bag, I threw the tourniquet on the leg that was most damaged,” Evans told Today.
“We took anything from our surroundings that we could to help us.”
Brendan Nugent is facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking Haines. Supplied
Haines was airlifted to hospital in Melbourne on Monday night, where she underwent surgery.
Unfortunately, it has been confirmed she has lost one of her legs.
A statement from The Alfred Hospital, where Haines is currently being treated, confirmed she was still in a critical condition on Wednesday morning. Her family is currently by her bedside.
Haines has three children with her husband, Phil, who she lives with on a cattle farm in her electorate in north-eastern Victoria. It is not known exactly how many grandchildren she has.
Nugent has been charged with several offences in relation to the alleged attack on Haines, including dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally cause serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
He will face Wangaratta Magistrates Court today.
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