SA Health’s ‘hero’ chief executive Robyn Lawrence helps woman stabbed on Hindley St in Adelaide’s CBD

One of the state’s most senior bureaucrats has given first aid to a young woman moments after she was stabbed on a busy CBD street during evening rush hour.

Emergency services at the scene of the stabbing on Hindley and King William street, Adelaide. Picture: Mitch Mott

One of the state’s most senior bureaucrats has helped a teenage girl just moments after she was stabbed on a busy city street during evening rush hour.

Police and emergency services were called to the corner of Hindley and King William streets shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday amid reports of a stabbing.

A teenager, whose details were not immediately known, was stabbed and another female was on the run after the violent incident.

Witnesses reported two women embroiled in an argument before escalating into a fight.

The girl, who is younger than 18, suffered a stab wound to the back before the other woman fled the scene.

The offender is still on the run and is believed to be known to the victim.

SA Health chief executive, Dr Robyn Lawrence, was caught up in the drama as one of the first people on the scene.

Dr Robyn Lawrence, in green, with paramedics after providing first aid to a woman stabbed in the CBD. Picture: 9 News

SA Health Chief Executive Robyn Lawrence with Health Minister Chris Picton.

Dr Lawrence, a trained medical hospital registrar before moving into administration, helped the young victim with first aid.

As she was returning to her Hindmarsh Square offices – with other SA Health officials and aides to Health Minister Chris Picton – Dr Lawrence saw other good Samaritans were struggling to help the victim.

She helped compress the stab wound on her back, performed other first aid and then put her in the recovery position before paramedics arrived.

Paramedics with the woman after she was stabbed. Picture: 9 News

#BREAKING: Emergency services are on the scene of what's reported to have been a stabbing in the city. #9Newspic.twitter.com/83Mo2DLKi0

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She told colleagues: “Anyone would have done it.”

A humbled Dr Lawrence, who earns $674,977 a-year, declined to comment on Wednesday night.

An SA Health spokeswoman said: “Dr Lawrence assisted at the scene and helped give first aid before SA Ambulance arrived.”

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Her condition is not known.

In a statement an SA Police spokeswoman said police were investigating an assault that involved a teenage girl being stabbed.

“Patrols arrived at the scene and found the teenager with a small wound to her back,” she said.

“The injury is not life-threatening and is believed to have occurred during an altercation with another girl known to her.

“Police are searching the area for the suspect.”

Dr Lawrence, who held multiple senior WA Health roles over the past 15 years, was appointed to a five-year term last August last year, becoming the state’s second-highest bureaucrat.

In WA she developed a new children’s hospital, oversaw local networks, as well as managed its controversial medi-hotel and Covid-19 operations.

She was WA Health’s assistant director general charged with workforce, safety and quality, and clinical excellence before moving to Adelaide.

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