Paramedic tells Bondi Junction stabbing inquest he felt 'inadequate' waiting outside sceneMBy Millie RobertsTopic:Crime2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 1:58amParamedic Christopher Wilkinson gave evidence during day three of the inquest. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)In short:A paramedic who responded to the Bondi Junction stabbing told an inquest he felt "inadequate" after a directive to stay outside the Westfield shopping centre.The inquest heard ambulance crews were told to remain in situ while the possibility of a second armed offender was investigated.Paramedic Christopher Wilkinson said he was frustrated at being forced to wait outside the Westfield while people needed care.abc.net.au/news/bondi-junction-stabbing-inquest-paramedic-evidence/105232528Link copiedShareShare articleA critical care paramedic who responded to the Bondi Junction stabbing says he felt "frustrated" and "inadequate" after a directive for ambulance officers to stay outside the Westfield shopping centre.WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.Christopher Wilkinson is an emergency officer with four decades' experience and who assessed security guard Faraz Tahir on the day 40-year-old Joel Cauchi went on the stabbing rampage through the centre, killing six people and injuring 10 others.Doctors did “everything possible to save” Mr Tahir, who was on his first shift, but he died at the scene.If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline on 131 114Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 63613 YARN on 13 92 76Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOutSANE on 1800 187 263Call triple-0 if you need immediate careCounsel assisting the coroner Emma Sullivan told the court that at the same time Mr Wilkinson arrived on the scene, intelligence had broadcast for all crews to remain in situ while the possibility of a second armed offender was investigated.A hot zone, or an "active area of threat" limiting who could enter, was later established, she said.Mr Wilkinson said he heard about the hot zone from a police officer positioned outside the Westfield entrance who "stated no-one could enter those doors".He triaged three victims stabbed by Cauchi who were brought outside, including Mr Tahir, but said it was "far too long to [get] ambulances to some of the patients inside", the court heard.Joel Cauchi killed six people during an attack in the Bondi Junction Westfield. (Supplied)"For me standing around … knowing there could possibly be people dying on the inside of the premise and not going to them because there could be a second offender, or could be a hot zone, is not good enough," he said."Someone of my experience, of 42 years … I felt inadequate being forced to stay on the outside."I stood there with my boots on the ground quite frustrated that people could may well be dying upstairs, and nobody was doing anything medically for them."All crews told to exit WestfieldAssistant Commissioner Brent Armitage, who was the ambulance commander at the scene, issued a directive for all crews to exit Westfield at 4:28pm due to the hot zone.However, a minute earlier, police radio had confirmed there was no second offender after a review of CCTV.Commissioner Armitage agreed that information would have been important for NSW Ambulance to know and would have been relevant to his directive."With the benefit of hindsight, the area would not have been declared hot, but I probably still would have withdrawn [crews]," he said.There were no patients remaining inside Bondi Junction Westfield by the time the hot zone was formally declared, the court heard.When Ms Sullivan put to Commissioner Armitage that the hot zone declaration had no impact on clinical outcomes but was an "important potential learning exercise”, he agreed.Paramedics were forced to stay outside of the Westfield over fears of a second attacker. (AAP: Steve Markham)Call for changeMr Wilkinson said he thought "we need to change the way we do things"."There's an expectation an ambulance will arrive [when called]," he said."We bring calmness to a scene and reassurance to the scene."He supported the introduction of a "rescue task force" where police provide protection to paramedics when entering an active armed offender situation."Something like this is very timely and for the future, very necessary."Mr Wilkinson is one of multiple NSW Ambulance figures expected to give evidence during the five-week inquest that began on Monday at the NSW State Coroner's Court.The hearing continues.Posted 2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 1:58am, updated 3m ago3 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:14amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)If you need someone to talk to, call:Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800 650 890QLife on 1800 184 527Top StoriesPM addresses National Press Club ahead of campaigning blitzLIVEPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds hands with his fiancee as they smile and walk into a rally.Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayLIVEPhoto shows RBA buildingHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationPhoto shows Cash money in a purse with a calculator, tea towel, list of bills on a notepad and a penThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Peter DuttonHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he will have seat at tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsPhoto shows shac tealRelated storiesOfficer who shot Bondi Junction stabber thought she was 'probably going to die'Topic:CrimePhoto shows A young woman wearing a grey suit with a white undershirt stands outside court with sunglassesInternet history reveals Bondi Junction killer was 'planning a strike', inquest toldTopic:CrimePhoto shows Woman stands in courtroom, woman in road in top left-hand cornerLife for Bondi Junction survivors 'has never been normal since that day'Topic:StabbingsPhoto shows A graphic of three survivors - two men and one woman - with flowers and a westfield sign.Related topicsBondi JunctionCourtsCrimeLidcombeMental HealthPoliceTop StoriesPM addresses National Press Club ahead of campaigning blitzTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds hands with his fiancee as they smile and walk into a rally.Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayTopic:Stock MarketHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he will have seat at tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsJust InWatchdog finds pressure on pilots a factor in plane's highway crashTopic:Air Incidents3m ago3 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:13amMore than 4 million Australians have already voted. 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