‘Words cannot express our gratitude’: Ash Good’s family breaks silence

The heartbroken family of the new mum who was killed in Bondi Junction on Saturday have given an update on her nine-month-old daughter after she was saved by strangers.

Pilar Grace

3 min read

April 14, 2024 - 4:47PM

Bondi stabbing attack victims identified

Family Life

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The family of Ash Good has broken their silence, speaking about the beloved young woman who was tragically killed in the mass stabbing at Bondi Junction on Saturday.

“Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round outstanding human and so much more,” the family said in a statement.

“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.

“We can report that after hours of surgery yesterday our baby is currently doing well. We are so grateful for the expert care and attention of the medical team at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

“We would also like to thank the New South Wales Police for their kindness and diligence in this tragedy and emergency services for getting our baby the care she needed as quickly as possible,” the family said.

Ash Good was one of six victims of the stabbing at Bondi Junction on Saturday. Photo: Facebook

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Ash Good’s family breaks silence

If it wasn’t for two brothers who happened to be near Ash and her baby when they were attacked, the little girl might not have made it.

“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannot express our gratitude. We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred. We would appreciate peace and privacy while we work through this as a family.”

As the news of the tragedy broke on Saturday, Sky News journalist Laura Jayes was reporting on the scene. Going to work that day, Laura couldn’t have known that one of her friends would be one of the victims.

“I didn’t know the others but I knew one,” Laura said to the camera. At the time, Ash had not been named. “I can tell you that it was a mother, a mother in the prime of her life, a new mother with a nine-month-old baby. She’s a beautiful woman."

Ash's nine-month-old baby was attacked and remains in stable condition at hospital. Photo: Facebook

What happened in the Bondi Junction stabbing?

Just after 3pm on Saturday, crowds of shoppers were spending an afternoon at Bondi Junction when terror unfolded.

A 40-year-old man who has been identified as Joel Cauchi was captured on CCTV walking into the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction. He left soon after and then returned at 3:20pm, carrying a 30cm knife.

Police received multiple triple-zero calls as Cauchi wielded the knife and began stabbing shoppers, seemingly at random.

Panicked shoppers ran for their lives, desperate to get out of the path of the killer.

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Over 200 police from the Tactical Operations Unit entered the shopping centre, but it was a lone senior female police officer who was at the Westfield on a separate assignment who confronted Cauchi and shot him to death.

One man and five women, including Ash, are confirmed dead.

In addition to the six killed, eight people were stabbed and remain in hospital.

Joel Cauchi killed six people before he was shot dead by a police officer. Photo: AFP

Joel Cauchi named as Bondi Junction stabbing spree attacker

Queensland man Joel Cauchi has been named as the attacker behind Saturday’s horrific stabbing spree at Bondi Junction.

The 40-year-old was shot to death by a police officer but not before he managed to stab six people in a seemingly random attack.

According to witnesses, it was about 3pm when Cauchi walked through the shopping centre casually, wearing a Kangaroos rugby league jersey.

Shoppers ran in terror, but Cauchi was still able to kill six people and seriously wound a further eight people before he was taken down.

“We are continuing investigations in relation to him,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

“We believe he came to New South Wales last month. We have spoken to his family and we will continue to do so.

“We know that shortly after coming to Sydney he took possession of a storage facility which has been identified and we have worked through that very small storage facility."

Joel Cauchi has been named as the killer in the Bondi Junction mass stabbing. Photo: Facebook

Over the years Cauchi has been active on Facebook, posting in hobby groups looking for friendship and advice.

In December 2020, he posted on an outdoors page, asking members who owned guns if they wished to meet up.

“Hi I am looking for groups of people who shoot guns, including handguns, to meet up with, chat with and get to know,” he wrote.

“Please send me a DM if you can help me out! I live in Brisbane by the way.”

It's understood that Cauchi acted alone in the mass stabbing and that he had history of mental health issues. Police have ruled out links to terrorism.