Kyle Sandilands has revealed a “very close family member” was stabbed in the Bondi attacks.
The Sydney-based radio host, who returned to airwaves this morning following a two-week survey break, said the aunt of his wife Tegan Kynaston was the “first woman that got stabbed” by perpetrator Joel Cauchi during the rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday, which has so far claimed the lives of six people.
Speaking on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show, Sandilands said he and Kynaston were watching the breaking news unfold on TV before they found out their family member was a victim.
“The first woman that got stabbed in the shoulder is actually a family member of ours. She’s a very close family member to my wife,” Sandilands told co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
He continued, “So when you’re watching it on TV, and then find out one of your own family [members] is involved and carted off to hospital … She was one of the first released.”
Sandilands further claimed Bondi Beach lifeguard Andy Reid, who was present during the incident, was responsible for saving Kynaston’s aunt after he sighted her laying in a pool of blood.
Reid was shopping in Myer when the gates to the department store were slammed shut as Cauchi – who was shot dead at the scene by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott – began stabbing multiple people.
The lifeguard saw Kynaston’s aunt, before begging the security guard to let him out of Myer so he could help her. He improvised by taking clothes from a Cotton On rack to wrap around her arm in a bid to prevent the flow of blood.
“He could see our family member that got stabbed laying on the ground. He said there was so much blood, he insisted on being let out of the cage,” Sandilands said.
“He said, ‘If I don’t get to her, she’s losing too much blood, she’s going to die, let me out of Myer’.
“So they let him out, and he rendered assistance until the paramedics arrived. But he said, every 50m, there was a person laying in a pool of blood all the way down the mall.”
Meanwhile, the family of 40-year-old Cauchi released a statement on Sunday night.
In a statement released on their behalf by Queensland police, Cauchi’s parents, Andrew and Michele, said their son’s actions were “truly horrific”.
“We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday,” they said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened. He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.
“We are in contact with both the NSW Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coping all right.”