Girl, 13, charged after woman suffers knife wound at Warringah Mall

The husband of a woman who suffered a knife injury at a northern beaches nail salon has revealed his wife ‘was trying to protect her customers’ as a schoolgirl has been charged with multiple offences. SEE THE VIDEO.

A WOMAN working in a nail salon at Westfield Warringah Mall suffered a deep knife wound while trying to stop an alleged fight between two schoolgirls.

Mum-of-one Tracy Lam, 42, was left bleeding profusely from an injury to her right arm while working in the Sea Nails & Spa, at 3pm on Monday.

An alleged fight between two schoolgirls at a Warringah Mall nail salon. Picture: Supplied.

The nail salon worker during the alleged fight trying to protect her customers. Picture: Supplied.

A video, taken by a member of the public, reveals the moments leading up to the incident and Mrs Lam’s shock when she realises she’s been hurt.

The alleged fight was between a 14-year-old customer and a 13-year-old who came into the salon.

A 13-year-old girl from Narraweena has been charged with reckless wounding, affray, and custody of a knife in a public place.

On Tuesday Mrs Lam underwent major surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The injured arm of the nail salon worker. Picture: Supplied.

The woman who suffered a knife wound. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Lam’s husband and salon owner Hai, 45, of Bankstown, was not there at the time of the incident, but was by his wife’s bedside most of Monday night.

“She was trying to do the right thing,” Mr Lam said.

“She was trying to protect her customers.

“She is still in shock.”

Mr Lam said at this stage doctors did not know whether his wife would make a full recovery due to possible nerve damage caused by the injury.

Northern Beaches Police crime manager Mick Boutouridis said the victim was seriously injured when she tried to intervene in an alleged altercation between the two schoolgirls.

“About 3pm a 13-year-old girl entered the Sea Nails salon at Westfield, Warringah Mall where an altercation occurred with a customer, a 14-year-old girl,” Inspector Boutouridis said.

“An employee tried to separate the girls and received a knife wound to her arm.”

Mrs Lam was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being sedated and taken to hospital.

Inspector Boutouridis said after the alleged wounding, the girl fled the store.

“There was an extensive police search at the mall, but following inquiries by Northern Beaches detectives, the girl attended Dee Why Police Station, with her mother just before 7pm on Monday,” Insp Boutouridis said.

The alleged incident happened at Westfield Warringah Mall on Monday.

“Detectives also seized CCTV footage from the salon’s security cameras. Nobody else was injured.”

The 13-year-old girl was granted conditional bail to appear at Surry Hills Children’s Court on Tuesday January 22.

The injured woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. Picture: Julian Andrews.