Australian politician fighting for her life after ‘losing a leg’ in car attack outside her office

Published: 06:16 EDT, 20 October 2026 | Updated: 06:16 EDT, 20 October 2026

An Australian politician is fighting for her life in hospital and has reportedly lost a leg after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office.

Helen Haines was hit by a white Toyota Land Cruiser in Wangaratta at around 3.30pm local time on Monday as she retrieved belongings from her vehicle.

The 65-year-old mother-of-three and grandmother has undergone surgery at hospital for her ‘severe’ lower body injuries but remains in a critical condition, with reports circulating that she could have lost both legs.

Harrowing: Australian politician Helen Haines has lost a leg after she was ‘deliberately’ hit by an SUV in Victoria, Australia, on Monday

Brendan Nugent, 43, has been arrested in connection with the incident although no charges have been made while counter-terror and security services continue conducting investigations.

A local barber has been praised for running to Haines’s ‘defense’ when he saw the collision outside his shop, which was next to her office.

Father-of-three Ricky Jefferies pulled the man from the driver’s seat of the vehicle and wrestled him to the ground.

He then found a flick knife in the man’s pocket, which he kicked away and held the suspect down until police arrived.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: ‘This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.’

Reports suggest that the driver passed Haines before performing a U-turn and crashing into her, pinning her under the car. The motive for the attack is unclear.

Albanese told Australian TV show Sunrise on Tuesday: ‘I spoke with [Haines’s] husband Phil last night, and she underwent surgery last night.

‘All of Australians’ thoughts are with the family, with her many friends, with her community. Helen Haines is someone of integrity.

‘She’s greatly admired right across the political spectrum. She’s someone who’s characterized by her kindness, her diligence, her intelligence, someone who is so proud of representing that beautiful part of Victoria.

‘And this is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with her this morning and today, and we hope for a full recovery.’

Scene of the attack: The driver of a white 1997 model Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier has been arrested in connection with the crash

However, Albanese said despite ‘this dark and terrible time’ there was an ‘element of light’ through the courageous actions of ‘Good Samaritan’ Jeffries.

‘That person is a hero today,’ he said. ‘And I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even more further infliction of damage, which was aimed at Helen.’

Jeffries’s sister told local media: ‘Richard overpowered him, searched him and found a knife in his pocket and threw it away. And then took him to the ground.’

Distressing: Haines was allegedly struck by the Land Cruiser while unloading her car

The force is now investigating whether the attack was intentional and added that it is not yet known whether Haines and her alleged attacker knew each other.

The incident is believed to be isolated and the public have been reassured that they face no further threat.

Haines’s family praised the ‘swift assistance’ of bystanders for their ‘beloved Helen’, police and medical workers in a statement following the incident.

‘Our family, and Helen’s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media. Please keep Helen in your thoughts,’ they said.

Family support: Haines and her husband Phil in 2024

Albanese reiterated his earlier calls to ‘turn the temperature down’ in political discourse, as he added that he wasn’t aware of any threats made toward Haines in the lead up to the incident.

‘They’ll be checking on the history of the person who is in custody… trying to establish a motivation… they are very professional [and] they have my complete faith,’ he said.

Haines’s website states: ‘Through my work as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, I’ve cared for people in our community during some of their most important moments.

‘I’m not beholden to a political party and call out bad decisions, no matter who made them. I fight for you and work to get results for our community, even when the going is tough.’