Youth crime: Tradie Tomas Petzler stabbed at Werribee station

An unsuspecting tradie violently stabbed in a random attack by up to 10 teens in Melbourne’s west believed he was going to die as paramedics raced him to hospital.

A young tradie who was violently stabbed in a random pack attack in Melbourne’s west has revealed he thought he was going to die.

22-year-old Tomas Petzler had just stepped off the train at Werribee station about 3pm on Tuesday after finishing work when he accidentally bumped into a teenage boy standing in a large crowd.

It is then understood that at least 10 teenage boys lunged at him, knocking him to the ground and kicking and punching him until shocked onlookers rushed to help him.

Moments later, Mr Petzler looked down to see his shirt soaked in blood.

Until then, he had not realised he had been stabbed in his chest and back.

Speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun, Mr Petzler said he feared he was going to die as paramedics rushed him to hospital.

22-year-old Tomas Petzler was repeatedly stabbed in a random attack at Werribee train station on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

The young tradie believed he was going to die as paramedics raced him to hospital. Picture: Supplied

“In the ambulance, I kept thinking I was gonna die,” he said.

“I kept asking them: Am I gonna die? Am I gonna die?”

“I thought they had only just bashed me. I didn’t think they had stabbed me.

“Before I got taken to hospital, I walked five meters up a ramp, and then I looked at my shirt and realized I was bleeding really badly.”

During the frenzied attack, Mr Petzler had been stabbed in his chest.

One of those wounds had punctured his lung, causing it to collapse.

He also suffered two stab wounds to his back.

Mr Petzler said that doctors told him had the stab wounds in his back been any closer to his spine, he could have become paralysed.

He said the entire ordeal unfolded so quickly, he did not have time to comprehend what was happening.

Paramedics believe the young man would have been paralysed if the stab wounds were any closer to his spine. Picture: Supplied

“It was really quick, like 30 seconds,” he said.

“I was walking past them, and I accidentally bumped into one of them, and then it all started from there.

“There were at least 10 of them.

“I called up into a ball and they were all just kicking me and punching me, and there were people trying to stop it and yelling and trying to break it up.”

Mr Petzler said he had seen the large pack of teenagers at the station in the past, but he did not personally know any of the boys.

The young tradie spent two days recovering in hospital after the ordeal.

A second boy who also suffered a stab wound during the incident is believed to be one of the offenders involved in attacking Mr Petzler and may have been stabbed accidentally during the brutal assault.

That teenage boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where it is understood he was interviewed by police.

The tradie had just exited a train at Werribee station when the attack unfolded. Picture: Supplied

Amid a spate of terrifying knife crimes in Melbourne in recent weeks, Mr Petzler begged for kids carrying weapons to reconsider their choices.

“They’re only going to ruin their own lives,” he said.

Friends of Mr Petzler have started a fundraiser to help cover his medical costs.

Investigators are trawling through footage of the knife attack captured on nearby CCTV.

It comes after three teenagers were stabbed in the car park of a La Porchetta Italian restaurant in Braybrook on December 14.

On December 16, police arrested a woman after she allegedly stabbed two men on Commercial Rd near Melbourne CBD.

It is unclear if any arrests have been made over Tuesday’s attack.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.