Cairns mother-of-three breaks her silence on surviving a near-deadly domestic violence attack

Face down on a table with a shotgun pressed to her throat, a Cairns mum-of-three made a split-second decision which likely saved her life. Here, she bravely shares her story of surviving a harrowing 13-year domestic violence relationship.

A Cairns mother of three has escaped a violent relationship of 13 years after her former partner held a gun to her throat. Picture: Brendan Radke

After being forced face-down on a coffee table with a shotgun held to her throat, a Cairns mother-of-three has broken her silence on surviving a near-deadly domestic violence attack involving an unregistered shotgun.

In an emotional and harrowing account, the 38-year-old woman — whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons — described how her abusive partner pinned her face-down, pressed a sawn-off shotgun under her chin and threatened to blow her head off.

“I thought that was it,” she said.

“All he had to do was pull the trigger.”

The shocking gunpoint attack wasn’t a one-off, but it was the final and most dangerous event she had experienced in a long pattern of worsening domestic violence at the hands of her now ex-partner.

A Cairns mother-of-three is bravely speaking out for the first time about the day she was held at gunpoint by her abusive partner, in a bid to encourage others to report illegal weapons and help save lives. Picture: iStock

She is sharing her story as a warning to others in conjunction with Crime Stoppers Queensland new Illegal Firearms Campaign, encouraging people, especially in regional and remote areas, to report illegal weapons before tragedy strikes.

“He told me he’d kill me if I ever told anyone,” she said.

“I did as I was told because I didn’t want to end up dead, and I chose not to report it because I was terrified.”

The incident occurred on March 3, 2020, and it was the breaking point after 13 years of abuse.

She said the father of her children kept two illegal shotguns hidden in a backpack in their wardrobe and would often use them as tools of psychological torture and control.

“Sometimes he’d ask if I wanted him to get the guns out. A few times he threatened to kill us all in a murder-suicide,” she said.

On that day, she made a split-second decision which likely saved her life.

The shocking gunpoint attack wasn’t a one-off. Picture: Brendan Radke

After her partner smashed her phone and laptop, she fled the home, locking her children in a bedroom before running barefoot to a nearby shopping centre and calling police.

“I realised he needed to be stopped … I had no choice but to leave the house to get help. I locked the children in the bedroom and bolted,” she said.

Officers swiftly surrounded the area, arrested her partner and seized the firearms.

The mother of three said she believed if the weapons had been reported earlier, her ordeal could have been avoided.

“When I look back, I don’t know how I survived it, and now I realise I should have had the courage to pick up the phone and call Crime Stoppers anonymously,” she said.

“If I had done that, I wouldn’t have lived through the torture.”

Australian Criminal Intelligence figures revealed there are currently about 260,000 illegal firearms in Australia.

Data released last year by Queensland Police also revealed there were more than 3290 crimes committed involving firearms, including attempted murders, assaults, robberies and unlawful entries.

The woman's identity cannot be revealed for privacy reasons. Picture: Brendan Radke

The figures also revealed that more than 1050 people had their gun licence revoked in 2024.

Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO David Hansen said illegal firearms were increasingly linked to domestic violence and everyone played an important role in preventing gun violence.

“Every gun that’s reported and taken off the streets is a potential crime prevented,” Mr Hansen said.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Mr Hansen said many people who could help were current or former partners, family or friends and their information can save lives.

“The message is simple – say something before it’s too late,” he said.

Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO David Hansen. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We are urging them to come forward and report an illegal firearm to Crime Stoppers. They might feel hesitant, but staying silent only allows the danger to grow.”

When reporting a crime to Crime Stoppers, you can remain 100 per cent anonymous.

The Cairns mother says this knowledge could have made all the difference to her situation.

“If you know someone has an illegal firearm, report it, anonymously – before it’s too late,” she said.

“Because I was almost too late, and not everyone gets a second chance like I did.”

She hopes her story gives others the courage to do what she couldn’t.

“I hope that by telling my story, others will be empowered to come forward sooner and report what they know,” she said.

Originally published as Cairns mother-of-three breaks her silence on surviving a near-deadly domestic violence attack