Brutal Machete Assault Leaves Man’s Arm Hanging by a Thread

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In a shocking incident in Melbourne, Australia, a man’s hand was nearly severed in a vicious machete attack by a group of teenagers, highlighting the escalating youth violence plaguing Victoria. The victim, Saurabh Anand, endured a life-altering assault outside a shopping centre, suffering severe injuries that may permanently impair his hand’s functionality. This article explores the harrowing event, its aftermath, and the broader implications for community safety.

On July 19, 2025, Saurabh Anand, a 33-year-old man of Indian origin, was ambushed while walking home from a pharmacy at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, a suburb of Melbourne. A group of teenage boys surrounded him and demanded valuables. When Anand refused, one attacker drew a machete and swung it toward his throat. “My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face,” Anand recounted to 9News. The blade slashed through his wrist, hand, and forearm, nearly severing the limb. The assailants also stabbed his shoulder and back, causing a fractured spine and head injuries. Bleeding profusely, Anand stumbled outside, where passers-by called emergency services and helped save his life.

Surgeons at Royal Melbourne Hospital worked for hours to reattach Anand’s hand, inserting metal screws during emergency surgery. Doctors initially considered amputation but managed to preserve the limb. However, they remain uncertain about his recovery. “I cannot move my hand. All I feel in it is pain,” Anand told The Australia Today. The attack has left him mentally scarred, reliving the trauma nightly. “Mentally, I’m still there being attacked,” he said. A fundraiser has been launched to support his recovery, as he calls for stronger government action to curb youth crime.

Victoria is grappling with a surge in knife-related crime, with police reporting significant increases in arrests and edged-weapon seizures. The state’s youth crime rate is at its highest since electronic records began, prompting new bail laws passed in March 2025. A ban on machete possession is set to take effect from September 1. Four teenagers have been charged in connection with the attack, including a 14-year-old with a prior knife-related incident, while a fifth suspect remains at large. This brazen assault underscores the urgent need for tougher policies to restore public safety.