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Bondi Junction attack: Ash Good’s family pays tribute after Westfield horror

Sarah BlakeThe Nightly
Ash Good tragically died in the Bondi attack.
Camera IconAsh Good tragically died in the Bondi attack. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

New mum Ash Good has been remembered as an “all round outstanding human” by her grieving family after her death in the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed her courage.

The Sydney woman died on Saturday night after bravely saving her nine-month-old daughter, who was stabbed several times in her pram by attacker Joel Cauchi.

Her family also revealed that the baby’s condition had improved overnight after undergoing surgery at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

“Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round, outstanding human, and so much more,’’ the family said in a statement.

“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.

“We can report that after hours of surgery yesterday, our baby is doing well. We are so grateful for the expert care and attention of the medical team at Sydney Children’s Hospital.”

Ms Good’s daughter was stabbed several times in her pram as her mother walked her through the packed shopping centre on Saturday afternoon. The attacker then turned on her.

Bleeding heavily and screaming, Ms Good, 38, passed her baby to two brothers.

“She handed us the baby and said: ‘please help, help’,” one of the men told reporters.

“She was bleeding from her head, her face.. the baby was bleeding.

“I was trying to compress the baby to stop the blood.”

Ms Good’s family thanked first responders and medical staff and singled out the brothers for their help.

“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not - words cannot express our gratitude,” they said in their statement.

“We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred. We would appreciate peace and privacy while we work through this as a family.”

Ms Good was taken after the attack to St Vincent’s Hospital, where she later died. Sydney Children’s Hospital on Sunday confirmed Ms Good’s baby was in a serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Speaking on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Ms Good’s bravery.

“This is a tragedy that should never have occurred. That young mother has shown the extraordinary spirit that mothers have,” he said.

Also among those to pay tribute to Ms Good were her friend, Sky News host Laura Jayes, who described her as “a mother in the prime of her life”.

“I didn’t know the others but I knew one,” an emotional Ms Jayes said on Saturday night.

“I can tell you that it was a mother, a mother in the prime of her life, a new mother with a nine-month-old baby. She’s a beautiful woman.

“Her baby went into surgery and her mum didn’t make it. That is really hard news to take. She was so smart, so beautiful and it was all ripped away in seconds.”

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