Major supermarket retailer speaks out after teen stabbed in Runaway Bay shopping centre

A major supermarket retailer has officially spoken out after a 14-year-old boy collapsed in the middle of its Runaway Bay store. Read their respose

Woolworths has spoken out after a 14-year-old boy collapsed in their Runaway Bay store suffering stab wounds. Picture: by Richard Gosling

One of the biggest supermarket retailers in Australia has spoken out against a violent attack that left a Gold Coast teen with serious stab wounds.

It comes after a teen boy collapsed in the middle of a supermarket in front of horrified shoppers after he was allegedly attacked by another boy with a knife on the Gold Coast.

The 14-year-old boy was in the car park of Runaway Bay shopping centre on Friday night when he was involved in a verbal argument which allegedly turned violent, leaving him with deep knife wounds down his chest and shoulder.

He stumbled into the nearby Woolworths supermarket before collapsing.

Police outside the Runaway Bay shopping centre on Friday night.

Shocked shoppers rushed to his aid before emergency services arrived around 7.30pm.

He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

Speaking to the Bulletin, a media spokesman for Woolworths Group said staff working on the day had valiantly tended to the injured teen while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

The spokesman said: “Our Runaway Bay store team reacted to the unfolding incident in line with our established safety procedures, and we thank them for doing so. Police and paramedics attended the scene shortly after.”

The spokesman confirmed that the Runaway Bay branch managed to continue working after the traumatic incident but strongly condemned the attack.

He added: “There is no place for violence like this anywhere in our community.

Another 14-year-old boy has been charged with grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.

He is due to appear at Southport Children’s Court on Monday.

Neither QPS nor the Gold Coast University Hospital were able to provide an update.

When asked whether action will be taken to heighten security, the Runaway Bay Centre declined to comment at the time of publication.

Queensland police attended an alleged assault outside the Runaway Bay shopping centre. Picture: File

A woman who witnessed the aftermath said she saw police “coming and going” and “a lot of commotion” coming from the supermarket.

“(There were) teenagers coming in and out of the doors and one appeared in shock,” she said.

“He walked out onto the roadway, hands on his knees and was collected and taken back in by another teenager.”

Shoppers and staff in the centre on Saturday said they were shocked to hear what happened.

“I’m a bit gobsmacked to be honest,” Paradise Point resident Peter Dodd said.

“Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, this area around here used to be really safe, but it’s changing.

“Not to be funny, but if you lived in Nerang you would expect something like that. But living in Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Hollywell area – you don’t.”

Shopper Matthew Davis said he was concerned about what happened.

“It’s not on – I think it’s very sad,” he said.