Traralgon mum Naomi Sheppard allegedly attacked on V/Line train by stranger

A Traralgon mum who knew she was having a heart attack after a stranger allegedly attacked her on the train says she wasn’t sure if she was going to make it home.

A Latrobe Valley mum has been left “highly traumatised” after being allegedly attacked on a train by a passenger who dislodged her internal defibrillator, triggering a heart attack.

Traralgon woman Naomi Sheppard, 49, was on the train from Melbourne on February 9, when a woman boarded and approached her.

Ms Sheppard said she offered the woman the seat next to her on the busy V/Line service, but she become enraged.

“I had no idea who she was — she pushed my shoulder — and aggressively asked me if I could move my things using this bright, colourful language,” she said.

“When we were approaching the station for her to hop off, she was once again aggressive towards me — after some more colourful language she chose to spit in my face.”

Traralgon mum Naomi Sheppard was sitting on the V/Line train coming home in Melbourne when she was attacked by a passenger on February 9. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Ms Sheppard tried to defend herself but the woman allegedly grabbed her under the armpit.

“At that stage I believe she felt my internal defibrillator and she actually tried to turn the defibrillator in my chest,” she said.

Ms Sheppard felt unwell immediately, and as her attacker got off at Yarragon station, she knew she was having a heart attack.

A conductor told her the woman had also been bothering another passenger.

Ms Sheppard said it was “quite disheartening” that nothing was done sooner.

Then at the hospital, test results revealed she was having a heart attack.

Ms Sheppard had to be taken to hospital after she was attacked. Picture: Supplied

Ms Sheppard said she was still recovering from the incident that left her “intimidated” and “petrified”.

Usually the “life of the party”, she now rarely leaves the house, has had trouble sleeping, and just being at the train station causes her anxiety.

“I had a week in hospital, two weeks off work — I am self-employed so that affects my family greatly,” Ms Sheppard said.

“Unfortunately nobody stepped in to help me which I understand — the community these days are quite hesitant to do that for their own safety.

“I was concerned (whether) I was going to make it home.”

The passenger grabbed Ms Sheppard under her left armpit, interfering with her internal defibrillator. Picture: Supplied

Ms Sheppard, Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath and Morwell MP Martin Cameron have urged Police Minister Anthony Carbines to increase the number of protective services officers (PSOs) on V/Line trains.

“Gippsland’s public transport services have a mere two PSOs on roster at any given time in Traralgon, and there are 12 stations from Pakenham to Traralgon,” Ms Bath said.

“Across the state in regional stations there are only four stations that are serviced by PSOs — metropolitan Melbourne have more than 200 stations serviced by PSOs.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our email newsletters.

“Overwhelmingly, this case today says that regional Victorians are not feeling safe.

“This is not on, it’s not fair — having an extra layer of PSOs would calm situations down and ward off anti-social behaviour.”

A police spokesman said the alleged offender left the train at Yarragon and Ms Sheppard continued on to Traralgon where police and ambulance crews were called.

“The investigation into the incident is ongoing,” the spokesman said.

V/Line was contacted for comment.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.