Security guards have been so heavily traumatised by Joel Cauchi’s fatal mass stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction that many have been unable to return to work, an inquest has heard.
A senior security guard working at the popular shopping centre the day Cauchi killed six people described harrowing scenes of panic and confusion as Cauchi, armed with a 30cm knife, roamed the mall.
“Not everyone understands the fear and chaos we faced,” he told the inquest into the April 2024 stabbings.
“Many [security guards] showed great courage performing CPR and taking people to safety as best [they] could.”
The senior guard, whose name remains under a non-publication order, reflected: “It’s easy to say ‘I wish we did better’, but in the actual moment it’s different.
“We go through training and it’s good training but when the scenario actually happens you’re in flight or fight mode, and it’s just survival instinct.
“I wish we did better, I wish we did different.”
Cauchi killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others. He was shot and killed by New South Wales police inspector Amy Scott.
When an initial distress call on the security staff radio alerted to “lots of blood” and urging guards to hurry, the security guard told the inquest he thought someone was possibly having a heart attack, had fallen and struck their head.
CCTV footage played to the court showed the security guard running through the mall, and a group of people standing outside a store direct him down the escalator towards some of Cauchi’s victims.
After reaching the victims and seeing people gathered around trying to help, the guard said his first instinct had been to run and get privacy screens.
‘Just a glimpse would be traumatising’
Asked by Sue Chrysanthou SC if he got the privacy screens because bystanders were filming the victims, the man said he didn’t recall noticing that. Chrysanthou is acting on behalf of some of the families.
“I saw kids around, that was my main concern,” the man explained.
“I’m a father, so I saw those kids and I knew just a glimpse would be traumatising.”
After returning with the screens, he removed his suit jacket and began to help administer CPR.
He then heard gunshots. He later learned the shots were fired by Scott and had killed Cauchi.
“I thought I was being shot at,” he recalled.
He and others ran into a nearby shop. Finding out there was no fire exit in the store, he said he told a shop manager: “I’m not going to die here and if [Cauchi] comes to the door we have to do something.”
The man told the court that communications were difficult over the radio channel because it was busy with “so much chatter”.
He said he heard on his radio that the “person of interest was down” so he felt safe to come out of the store.
He told another security guard to get first aid equipment and he left the store to flag down and brief paramedics.
Asked what lessons could be learned from the incident, he replied better training for guards in the control room, which holds CCTV and emergency alert controls.
The court heard that there were concerns about the capability of the guard in the control room that day. “She had trouble understanding other people,” the senior guard said. “She was new to the role, still gaining experience.”
Concluding his evidence, the guard read aloud a note he had written, praising his colleagues and describing the ongoing effects of the deadly attack.
“I see your strength, I recognise your pain and I’m truly grateful to every single one of you. Thank you for being there with me.”
Only two of the guards working that day have been able to return to full-time work, he said.
The inquest, scheduled for five weeks, continues.
