Wyong: Man stabbed ‘multiple times’ at Warner Ave
UPDATE: Wyong shopkeeper Steven Van Meeteren is fighting for life after his second stabbing in nine years at Carmichael’s Corner Store. Police are hunting two males and two females who fled the scene.
Central Coast
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The first time Wyong shopkeeper Steven Van Meeteren was stabbed in his little corner store all he could think about was his son Aiden, then aged four, who was cowering behind the knife-wielding assailant.
That was nine years ago and while there have been other times low-life thugs — mostly skinny teenagers — have tried to rob his Carmichael’s Corner Store the 41-year-old “just chased them away”.
But this morning the much loved shopkeeper was again left fighting for life after he was stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack.
Police are hunting two males and two females, three of which, entered his store on the corner of Warner Ave and Levitt St shortly before 9.30am.
Chief Inspector Matthew Meares said an altercation ensued and the shopkeeper was stabbed several times before the four offenders fled.
They were last seen running in an easterly direction down Warner Ave.
Mr Van Meeteren was taken by ambulance to Baker Park where he was met by the CareFlight rapid response helicopter.
The aeromedical control centre in Sydney rallied additional blood products to be rushed to the scene from Wyong hospital.
The first was transported by a NSW Police Highway Patrol vehicle and the second by NSW Ambulance.
CareFlight’s medical team performed emergency surgery on Mr Van Meeteren, giving him a blood transfusion as well as a plasma transfusion to help stem the bleeding, before intubating him to stabilise his condition.
CareFlight’s specialist doctor, Chris Cheeseman said the additional blood and plasma saved his life.
“CareFlight carry two units of blood and two units of plasma, but that wouldn’t have been sufficient, so it was the additional units of blood that really made the difference to his life,” Dr Cheeseman said.
“We were able to get him to Royal North Shore Hospital and get him into theatre.”
Dozens of uniform police and plain clothes detectives spent hours this morning talking to neighbours and interviewing potential witnesses before crime scene investigators arrived to complete a forensic examination of the shop.
Shocked neighbours told the Express Advocate he had been held up a number of
times by mostly young teenagers but he usually “just chases them away”.
“He can get a bit crabby at times but otherwise a good bloke,” one said.
Another said he was a “beautiful soul” who would give their kids a lolly from time to time.
Nearby resident Stephen Upton said he heard the police sirens and ran across the road to see what was happening.
“He was a good bloke, a straight talker and told it how it was,” Mr Upton said.
“And he was a good father because sometimes he had his kids there. After the last time I said to him `Steve, you have to get some cameras or something’ and he said `yeah, I’m going to’.”
Chief Insp Meares said police would be reviewing any available CCTV footage from the shop.
In November 2010 Mr Van Meeteren suffered stab wounds to his abdomen and arm after a robber wearing a hooded jumper and face mask entered the store about 10am armed with serrated steak knife.
“I was at the back of the shop doing an order when I heard the buzzer go off,’’ Mr Van Meeteren told the Express Advocate at the time.
“I went towards the front of the shop. I thought my son was still at the back with my wife.
“The robber jumped the counter and demanded money.
“I thought he was joking it was like what I’ve seen at the movies.’’
Mr Van Meeteren said he fought back because he was concerned about his wife and child.
“He kept hitting me, I reckon he hit me about a dozen times in the face and then he stabbed me in the ribs and my arm.’’
His wife Leanne Van Meeteren ran out on to the street screaming for help and Mr Van Meeteren managed to push his attacker away.
Despite being king-hit about a dozen times and stabbed twice, Mr Van Meeteren said: “I was thinking about my son more than anything else.’’
“What would have stopped him (the robber) putting a knife through Aiden’s neck.’’
Mrs Van Meeteren spoke to police at the shop this morning but it was unclear if she had witnessed this latest attack or arrived afterwards.
Police, meanwhile, have urged anyone with information to come forward.
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