Help Shawn after senseless, unprovoked attack

Please help if you can - we ask for your generous support to a victim of a senseless and unprovoked attack in Melbourne.

Shawn is a 23-year-old international TAFE student who was brutally attacked after getting off a tram in January this year.

It was a terrible random stabbing incident that resulted in five people in hospital and some with life-threatening wounds.

Unfortunately, Shawn was one of these victims. Shawn’s left arm tendon and main nerves were almost cut-off along with other deep stab wounds to his back and legs. Among with physical injuries, Shawn is suffering from extreme PTSD.

Here is a link to a news article on the incident:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/07/man-arrested-after-four-stabbing-attacks-in-melbourne-overnight-with-one-woman-critically-injured

Due to his current state, he is unable to study and has had to postpone his TAFE as he recovers and undergoes treatment and rehabilitation for his wounds. His injuries mean he is unable to work as he recovers.

Shawn is currently undertaking extensive rehabilitation and mental counselling. He is determined not to let this experience ruin his life.

Shawn comes from a less privileged family in China. His father is a mine worker, and his mother has a small acupuncture shop in a small city. His family have used their savings to help him to study abroad so he could make a better living after TAFE. He had been working part-time to support his living in Australia prior to the incident.

Just four months after his arrival to study in Melbourne, this tragedy occurred. He is only 23 years of age far away from his family support. His parents are struggling to make arrangements to come to Australia to support him.

We are asking for help in raising funds to support Shawn to get through this darkest time of his young adulthood.

We are hoping he could use the fund for:

1. Food and accommodation;

2. To take time off study to recover;

3. Not need to be forced to work until his arm regains basic functionality;

4. Any private medical treatments/procedures;

5. Most importantly, for him to have an opportunity to regain a ‘breath’ in life.

Thank you for your attention and willingness to help this unfortunate young man. Any help and support from you will be very valuable to him.

We totally understand that if you were unable to donate this time and respectfully ask if you could pass this on to your friends and family, so that his story could be shared within the community.

With thanks,

Shawn's friends and family