Teens charged with attempted murder after security guard stabbed at Westfield Helensvale

A third teengar has been charged with attempted murder as a man and 13-year-old girl face court over an alleged knife attack at a Gold Coast shopping centre on Friday.

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A man charged with attempted murder after an alleged knife attack at a Gold Coast shopping centre on Friday has faced court.

It comes as a third teenager, a 17-year-old boy, has also been charged with attempted murder.

Kai Collins, 19, who was charged alongside a 13-year-old girl, appeared briefly at Southport Magistrates Court and was not required to enter a plea.

The charges come after a group of teens, one allegedly armed with a knife, allegedly set upon the Westfield Helensvale shopping centre security guard, leaving him in a pool of blood and fighting for his life.

Outside court, the man’s lawyer, Vered Turner from Vered Turner Lawyers, said she had asked to view CCTV of the alleged attack.

“We will have to get the footage and we will see what it shows,” she said.

“I’m not sure how long that will take ... but I’m hoping it will be in the next few weeks.”

An application by The Courier-Mail to remain in the court for the appearance of the 13-year-old girl accused of attempted murder was rejected.

The 17-year-old is due to face Southport Children’s Court on Saturday.

A number of people have been arrested following the alleged stabbing of a security guard at Westfield Helensvale early on Friday morning. Picture: 9 News Gold Coast/ Twitter

Johnny Whenuaroa, 57, a champion bodybuilder and veteran security guard, was taken to hospital in a serious condition after the frenzied knife attack about 7.45 on Friday morning.

Shocked early morning shoppers ran into nearby shops to raid first-aid aisles in a bid to stem the blood flow before police and paramedics arrived.

It will be further alleged he was then set upon by the youths, including one allegedly armed with a knife likened to a meat cleaver.

After desperately trying to fend off the frenetic attack, he was left lying in a pool of blood with serious wounds to his head, forearms, legs and stomach, as his alleged attackers fled in an allegedly stolen Holden Trax SUV.

A senior paramedic said Mr Whenuaroa was “very lucky to be alive”.

Johnny Whenuaroa, 57, was seriously injured in a frenzied stabbing attack. Photo: Supplied.

Four teenagers were tracked by police in the allegedly stolen car, before they were stopped at Beenleigh and arrested over the terrifying attack.

A 19-year-old Oxenford male was late on Friday charged with attempted murder, robbery with violence, attempt to enter premises and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A 13-year-old Upper Coomera girl was also charged with attempted murder. She will face Southport Children’s Court on Saturday, while the 19-year-old will face the Magistrates Court on the same day.

Two other teens arrested over the horror attack were still assisting police with their inquiries.

All four teens were “known to police”, a source close to the investigation told The Courier-Mail. The 19-year-old has also been charged with breach of bail offences over unrelated matters.

Police will allege the Holden Trax was stolen on August 24.

Mr Whenuaroa, who has been a security guard for more than 20 years, is also a champion bodybuilder who has worked at the shopping centre, one of the busiest in the state, for several years.

Johnny Whenuaroa is a champion bodybuilder and a security guard. Photo: Supplied.

On Friday, friends described him as a selfless and generous man who “would give you the shirt off his back”.

He was employed by national security provider Securecorp.

The Courier-Mail understands safety concerns about staffing levels at the Helensvale centre had been raised with the company as recently as last week.

Securecorp Queensland general manager Paul Embury was contacted on Friday but declined to comment.

Westfield Helensvale management did not return phone calls.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Adam Flory said the attack could have been fatal.

“Any time when there is a knife involved, these wounds can generally be fatal,” he said. “Anyone that survives injuries from a bladed weapon is very lucky to survive.

“We’ve had some incidents down here on the Gold Coast where people have died from being stabbed.”

Blood on the ground after a security guard was allegedly attacked by a group of teens. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Flory said the efforts of bystanders had played a critical role in helping Mr Whenuaroa’s chances of recovery.

“When members of the public assist these people we usually end up with good results, as is what has happened today,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Nick Sellars from Gold Coast Police also praised the work of officers who applied “tactical tourniquets” to Mr Whenuaroa’s wounds.

“They did a wonderful job in extremely traumatic and trying circumstances,” he said. “They have performed potentially lifesaving work until paramedics were able to take over.”

Police at the scene of a stabbing of a security guard at Westfield Helensvale. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Police spent several hours searching the nearby area for the knife used in the attack before retrieving what is believed to be the weapon involved.

United Workers Union co-ordinator Damien Davie said these kinds of attacks were happening “all too often”.

“Unfortunately retail security guards are getting attacked all too often,” he said.

“Our members patrol by themselves in these areas, while police will only patrol in pairs.

“This will continue to happen until guards are rostered on to patrol in pairs.”

Late on Friday, Mr Whenuaroa was in a serious but stable condition at Gold Coast University Hospital.

Staff seen cleaning up the scene after a stabbing at the Westfield Helensvale shopping centre on the Gold Coast. Picture: Keith Woods.

Originally published as Teens charged with attempted murder after security guard stabbed at Westfield Helensvale