The victim of an alleged terror stabbing at a university is a graduate psychology student researching brain disorders.
Melvern Kurniawan, 22, was allegedly stabbed in the neck and back with a kitchen knife by a 14-year-old boy at the University of Sydney at about 8.35am on Tuesday.
Mr Kurniawan was walking to the renowned Brain and Mind Centre on campus when the alleged random attack took place.
Bystanders rushed to his aid and stemmed the bleeding from his wounds until paramedics arrived on the scene.
He was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is now recovering at home after he was discharged.
The teenager, who was wearing an an army cadet-style uniform, was arrested by police a short time later.
He is currently in custody and is understood to be taking part in a mental health assessment.
Mr Kurniawan’s family broke their silence on Wednesday following his terrifying ordeal.
‘He is doing fine, really fine. ‘He doesn’t want to talk about it for now, just recover first,’ his mother Desy told the Daily Telegraph.
Doctors Mr Kurniawan to go home on Tuesday night, however, he will require ongoing treatment for his injuries.
Some of Mr Kurniawan’s friends, who visited his home, told the newspaper he is an academically gifted student with a ‘brilliant mind’
‘He’s the smartest guy we know…It’s awful this happened,’ one friend said.
Mr Kurniawan is a research assistant at the Brain and Mind Centre and is currently completing a thesis.
The centre is a globally recognised institute that conducts world-leading research on development treatments for conditions in the brain and mind.
The institute is also renowned for the research conducted into delivering better outcomes for mental health.
More to come.