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Final Bondi Junction Westfield stab victim identified as Chinese national Yixuan Cheng

Yixuan Cheng, a 27-year-old Chinese national studying abroad in Sydney, has been named as the sixth victim of the Bondi Westfield stabbing massacre.

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The final victim of the Bondi Westfield stabbing massacre was on the phone to her fiance just minutes before she was stabbed while shopping.

Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27, was killed along with five others by crazed Queensland man Joel Cauchi during a horrific stabbing rampage on Saturday afternoon.

“Unfortunately, she doesn’t have any family here in Australia,” Nine News reporter Sarah Stewart said.

“Police spent the day yesterday trying to contact her family back home in China. She was simply at Westfield on Saturday shopping like everybody else.”

The sixth victim of Saturday’s Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing has been named as Chinese national Yixuan Cheng.
The sixth victim of Saturday’s Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing has been named as Chinese national Yixuan Cheng.

According to Chinese media, Ms Cheng was studying for a master’s degree in economics at the University of Sydney.

On the day of the stabbing, Ms Cheng had finished some exams and had travelled to the shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to try on some clothes.

Her fiance in China, known only as Mr Wang, told a Chinese publication he had spoken to Ms Cheng on WeChat just moments before the attack unfolded.

“She happily talked to me on the phone at around 3 in the afternoon. She even tried on clothes for me to see,” he said.

“Unexpectedly, after hanging up the phone, a stabbing incident occurred.”

The last photo Ms Cheng took, a selfie sent to her fiance while shopping at Westfield, before she was tragically murdered. Picture: sydneytodaynews
The last photo Ms Cheng took, a selfie sent to her fiance while shopping at Westfield, before she was tragically murdered. Picture: sydneytodaynews
Mr Cheng repeatedly tried contacting his partner after learning about the attack inside the Bondi shopping centre. Picture: sydneytodaynews
Mr Cheng repeatedly tried contacting his partner after learning about the attack inside the Bondi shopping centre. Picture: sydneytodaynews
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Mr Wang desperately tried to contact Ms Cheng after discovering there had been a stabbing.

“I contacted her day and night, but there was no response at all. The whole family was so anxious that they didn’t dare to think too much.”

Harrowing photos supplied to local media purportedly show Ms Cheng taking selfies while shopping at Westfield before her tragic death.

In a cruel double blow, Mr Wang revealed he had plans to marry Ms Cheng after she graduated at the end of the year.

It’s understood he has booked a flight to Sydney.

Ms Cheng’s last text to her partner innocently discussed shopping for clothes before communication ceased.

How the horror unfolded

The horror unfolded at 4pm on Saturday when Cauchi began stabbing shoppers at random, including a woman and her nine-month-old baby, before being shot dead by police.

Five other victims of the recent violent attack have since been identified.

The victims are: Jade Young, an architect and mother of two; Dawn Singleton, the daughter of businessman John Singleton; Ashlee Good, a new mother whose nine-month-old daughter was also stabbed during the rampage; Pikria Darchia, a 55-year-old artist; and Faraz Tahir, a security guard and refugee.

All six victims of Bondi massacre.
All six victims of Bondi massacre.

Investigators earlier said they were working to contact victims’ families overseas.

Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke on Sunday said two of the victims, Ms Cheng and Mr Tahir, had no family in Australia.

Cauchi’s parents, Andrew and Michele, broke their silence on Sunday evening with a statement lamenting their son’s actions and sharing their thoughts with the victims and their loved ones.

In the statement, Joel’s actions were labelled “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.”

Originally published as Final Bondi Junction Westfield stab victim identified as Chinese national Yixuan Cheng

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/final-bondi-junction-westfield-stab-victim-identified-as-chinese-national-yixuan-cheng/news-story/5679212903887656a6598dd884238fb6