Ilysha Perry’s mother Fiona Coffey provides update on condition after stabbing

The mother of a university student who was stabbed on campus in Canberra has revealed the call she received to say her daughter may die from her horror injuries.

Fiona Coffey, mother at Ilysha Perry, addressing media about her daughter's condition following an alleged stabbing at the Australian National University on September 18, 2023. Picture: Sam Turner

The mother of a Canberra university student who was stabbed on campus has revealed her panicked drive from the south coast after being told her daughter may not survive her horror injuries.

Fiona Coffey received the nightmarish call on September 18 after her daughter Ilysha Perry and Isabella Vasudeva, both 20, were allegedly stabbed by former undergraduate Alex Leonard Ophel, 24, at the Australian National University.

Ms Coffey was told she had to get to the Canberra Hospital as quickly as she could due to the extent of Ms Perry’s injuries. She thought she would not make in time.

Ophel went to the Acton campus about 2.40pm that afternoon and allegedly assaulted a man with a fry pan before he turned his attention to Ms Perry and Ms Vasudeva and stabbed both of them.

The 24-year-old then allegedly punched another man in the face before he was finally taken down by police and security.

Alex Leonard Ophel being taken into custody at the Australian National University in Canberra on September 18, 2023. Picture: 9 News

Speaking to media from the Canberra Hospital on Monday, Ms Coffee said her 20-year-old daughter was still in the intensive care unit in a serious but stable condition.

Ms Perry’s mum said her daughter would have “serious long term issues” but was talking.

Fiona Coffey addressing the media about her daughter's condition. Picture: Sam Turner

“She will never be the same,” Ms Coffey said.

Ms Coffey thanked emergency crews, the Canberra Hospital, police, ANU and the community for their support after her daughter’s alleged stabbing.

She made special mention of a “brave man” who got to her daughter within seconds.

“If it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t be here today, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Ms Coffey said.

Ilysha Perry. Picture: Facebook

The Batemans Bay mother said her daughter, who was a second year student at ANU studying a Bachelor of Arts, was one of the “quietest, loveliest girls you’d ever meet” with her family devastated by what has happened.

Ms Coffey said she spent the weekend prior to September 18 with her daughter in the nation’s capital before driving back to the south coast when she was told what happened.

“They weren’t sure if that I would get there in time … so I just dropped everything, got in the car and drove straight here,” she said.

When asked about how she felt about receiving that call, she said she felt “shock” and “disbelief”.

“We didn’t know if she was going to survive or not,” Ms Coffey said. “I felt pretty lucky that she had hung on that long to see me, felt pretty lucky she was still with us, very grateful.”

Ophel was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of common assault and one count of possessing an object to be used to kill.

The 24-year-old appeared briefly in the ACT Magistrates Court on September 19 and did not apply for bail. He was remanded into custody to appear in court in October.

No motive for the incident has been identified and police do not believe the victims knew the accused.