Bundaberg woman speaks out after Brock McDonald attack

A 19-year-old woman has spoken of the horrific night she was attacked by a man, who tied a rope around her neck and dragged her into his car, after a night out in Bundaberg.

The teenage victim of a Bundaberg man who attacked her and attempted to abduct her has spoken publicly for the first time after his release on parole.

The teenage victim of a Bundaberg man who attacked her and attempted to abduct her has spoken publicly for the first time after his release on parole.

The 19-year-old woman recounted the terrifying ordeal with Brock McDonald, which took place over a year ago, and the lasting impact it has had on her life.

“It’s been over a year since Brock McDonald attacked me,” she said.

“I still remember that night, and it continues to haunt me to this day.”

She described the horrifying moments of the attack.

“Just after 2am I was walking home when all of a sudden, I felt a rope around my neck and I was unable to breathe,” she said.

“I was being dragged into the backseat of a white car and was terrified for my life.

The 19-year-old woman recounted the terrifying ordeal with Brock McDonald, which took place over a year ago, and the lasting impact it has had on her life.

“I realised I was lying face down on the backseat and someone was leaning over me.

“My immediate response was to fight and scream for my life.

“I remember turning around to see who was doing this, but he yelled at me to not look at his face.

“Somehow, I managed to get out of the car and hide in a bush as he drove away. At this point, I was paralysed with fear and in shock.”

In the days following the attack, the young woman struggled to cope with the trauma.

“For the next four days until he was arrested, I was unable to go out in public on my own, had regular panic attacks seeing white cars, and was so emotional,” she said.

“The fear of not knowing who my attacker was was so scary.”

Reflecting on how the attack changed her life, she said she was ‘hypervigilant’ and paranoid about her surroundings.

“I live in fear daily, and this has taken such an emotional toll on my life,” she said.

“Prior to this night, I was carefree, fun-loving.”

She had to attend regular counselling sessions for post-traumatic stress.

She detailed the physical and emotional toll of the trauma, which includes severe anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance of places connected to the attack.

“ I have avoidance of certain places like the street I was attacked on, the North IGA where Brock was arrested, and his car sat for more than four weeks,” she said.

“I get triggered when I see older white Toyota Corollas and have difficulty with personal relationships with men now.”

Despite the immense challenges, she has found strength in her family and support network.

She said her parents helped her through the whole ordeal, fielding all the calls, emails, and court appearances for her so she wasn’t ‘re-triggered.’

Park Street, Bundaberg where the victim was attacked.

She expressed fears about McDonald’s release and the possibility of him reoffending.

“I am concerned that he will be released and can hurt another woman or child again,” she said.

She wants others to realise that bad things “can happen to anyone, anywhere”.

“I was oblivious to the dangers in Bundaberg and naively thought I would be safe walking two blocks to my home…but a man tried to abduct me,” she said.

“I don’t think there is anything anyone could do that could reclaim my sense of safety or normalcy, but I would like to see more lighting on footpaths that are regular walking tracks, especially ones close to town.”

Despite the pain and fear, she continues to push forward, reclaiming her life piece by piece.

Brock McDonald was released on parole, Wednesday.

“I have tried hard to not let this incident break me,” she said.

“I have started a diploma qualification, secured permanent full-time work, and spend more quality time with my family.

“Long story short, I survived, and this is the truth … I fought for my life and I survived that night.”