The partner of a young mother killed in the horrific Bondi Westfield stabbing attack has spoken for the first time to share an update on how he and their baby daughter are coping in the wake of their loss.
Ashlee Good, 38, died in the attack on April 13, but managed to hand off her nine-month-old daughter Harriet to Good Samaritans, an act that saved the baby’s life.
The little girl, Harriet, suffered stab wounds and paramedics took her to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition, and she was eventually able to return home.
In the wake of the tragedy a GoFundMe was started for baby Harriet and her father, Dan Flanagan, which reached nearly $850,000.
Four months on, Mr Flanagan posted on the fundraising page on Monday, thanking the thousands of donors, as well as medical staff, friends and family for their ‘overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity’ in the wake of his ‘unimaginable loss’
‘Please know that you’ve provided us with both comfort and strength during this difficult time, and that every message and donation has been read and received. To say they’ve been deeply appreciated would be an understatement,’ he wrote
‘Nothing will ever dull the pain of losing Ash, but reading your messages and seeing what an impact Ash has had on so many people has provided a lot of comfort.
‘The day our family of three became a family of two will never make sense to me, but countless people – including every single one of you who wrote messages and donated through this page – have shown me that while tragic things do unfortunately happen, there is more good in this world, than bad.
Dan Flanagan, the partner of Bondi Westfield stabbing victim Ashlee Good (pictured) has spoken for the first time
Mr Flanagan thanked the thousands of donors, as well as medical staff, friends and family for their ‘overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity’ in the wake of his ‘unimaginable loss’. Pictured are locals paying tribute to the victims at Westfield Bondi Junction
‘While Harriet and I do our best to navigate our new world privately, I want to make one public promise to each of you: that the kindness and generosity you’ve shown us will never be forgotten.
‘From the bottom of my heart – thank you.’
Donations on the fundraiser have now ended.
Baby Harriet was with Ms Good, 38, at the shopping centre on the afternoon of Saturday, April 13 when they were the first people to be attacked at random by crazed knifeman Joel Cauchi.
One of Ms Good’s final acts was to thrust Harriet into the arms of strangers begging them to ‘please help, help’.
Six people were killed in the horrific attack: Top, left to right – Jade Young, Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton. Bottom, left to right: Cheng Yixuan, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Pikria Darchia
The mother was one of six people killed in the attack, with the lives of Cheng Yixuan, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, 30, and Jade Young, 47, also lost.
A dozen more people were injured in the attack before Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a police officer.
Mr Flanagan also shared his condolences to the other families torn apart by the horrific event.
‘Our lives will never be the same, and I wish every one of you your own strength and hope you’re getting the support required to navigate such incomprehensible and difficult times,’ Mr Flanagan wrote.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk