A man is fighting for life after being stabbed at a popular nightclub where staff desperately tried to stop his bleeding with tea towels and tissues.
The incident happened on the dancefloor of the Revolver Upstairs on Chapel Street, at Prahran, at about 4.30am on Sunday.
The 31-year-old was set upon by two attackers and it is believed a machete was used to inflict serious wounds to his upper body.
An ambulance rushed the man with life-threatening injuries to hospital, while the two offenders fled the scene and were last seen running along Macquarie Street.
Police were called and are reviewing CCTV footage from inside and around the venue as they attempt to catch the assailants.
On Sunday morning the pavement near the back entrance to the club showed what appeared to be a blood splatters.
Bits of police tape were also stuck to the rear bins, with the area appearing washed down.
A bloodied leather jacket was left nearby under fencing.
However, detectives fetched the clothing item at around 9.30am on Sunday morning, putting it in an evidence bag and taking photos of the scene.
The nightclub posted a sign on its door at around midday on Sunday informing patrons the venue was closed for the day and night.
‘We are heartbroken by the violent incident that took place at Revolver Upstairs this morning,’ the sign read.
‘Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible event.
‘Our highest priority has always been the safety of our patrons, artists and staff.
‘Revolver has always been committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all.’
An unnamed bartender working on the night told the Herald Sun that he heard screams and then ‘everything went silent’ inside the normally exuberant club.
Some staff and patrons attended to the wounded man while others called police or attempted to get out of the club.
Others inside the club provided harrowing accounts of the night.
‘There were people sitting in the gutter in tears, crying and everything,’ one unnamed patron said.
He said police and nightclub staff scanned everyone’s ID before they were allowed to leave the club meaning people had to queue for an over an hour to exit.
Another patron, Josh, said he had been enjoying his night when he heard a man had been stabbed.
‘We were just having a good time and then next minute five police rocked up,’ he said.
Another unnamed patron said Melbourne’s club scene had become ‘polluted and violent’.
‘It’s not what Melbourne’s nightlife is about,’ he said.
DJ sets, including by popular electronic duo Bag Raiders, have been rescheduled for when Revolver reopens.