Heroes of Bourke St massacre reflect on the tragedy six years on

As Bourke Street rampage killer James Gargasoulas sits behind bars, the devastating impact of his horrific crime is still felt by those who rushed to help victims.

It was a usual lunch hour in Melbourne’s CBD.

Thousands of those who had returned to work for the year were grabbing a bite to eat before all hell broke loose.

Six years ago today, killer James Gargasoulas mowed down dozens of pedestrians along Bourke St in an event that would change the city forever.

Six people were killed and dozens of others were injured, sprawled along the footpath as Melburnians sprung into action.

Then 24-year-old Henry Dow ran across the street to administer first aid to those laying on the footpath, evading police cars pursuing the red Holden Commodore to assist those injured.

Dow, hailed a hero for his efforts, was on his lunch break as a paralegal and says he’ll never forget the traumatic events of Friday, January 20, 2017.

James Gargasoulas before he mowed down crowds on Bourke Street Mall. Picture: Tony Gough

Henry Dow assisted victims in the aftermath of the rampage. Picture: David Caird

“Certainly there were some dark years for me where it was on your mind way too much, but time heals all things,” he told the Herald Sun.

“There were years there afterwards where you would think about it every day.

“Your mind really does do a funny thing where in the immediate aftermath, all you wanted was for everyone to stop talking about it.

“And probably six months down the track, once everyone does stop talking about it, you sort of want people to keep talking about it and can’t believe people have moved on.

“You won’t forget it.”

Now 30 and living in North Queensland where he works as a lawyer, Dow recounted the frightening moment several people, including 10-year-old Thalia Hakin were hit by the stolen sedan.

“I heard it coming up the street, so I turned around and there were police cars in pursuit at that stage,” he said.

“And then (I) saw the Commodore going up the footpath across from me, so I was on the other side of the road.

“The vast majority of people were just frozen.”

Driver James Gargasoulas is behind bars.

A pram is seen on the corner of Bourke and William streets after the rampage.

Placing his jacket under the head of the 10-year-old’s mother, who was seriously injured, Dow said the shots fired by police at Gargasoulas changed everything.

“That changed the atmosphere of the whole street,” he said.

“I remember looking up whilst I was already with (the mother) and the whole other side of the street was packed with people watching, who were frozen.

“And once the shots happened, it got pretty intense and everyone obviously cleared the streets very quickly then.

Floral tributes at Bourke Street Mall for victims of the attack. Picture: Getty Images

“It couldn’t have been more than a minute before he was shot and if you had asked me in the moment it would have been half an hour.”

Hero cabbie Lou Bougias, who led the citizen’s response on the ground, said the tragedy crossed his mind every day.

“I remember the six deceased daily and they will always be in my heart and my prayers,” he said.

Gargasoulas was sentenced to life behind bars for a crime described by a judge as “one of the worst examples of mass murder in Australian history”.