Bondi Junction Westfield, Confrontation with a Mass Murderer: Luck or a Modern Day Miracle?
- Timothy Lynch
- May 25
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 6
By Timothy Lynch
‘Quick, we have to go. Pack everything up, we need to move this way.’ My wife insisted as
she pointed towards K-Mart.
‘Hang on. We haven’t finished eating.’ Was my reply as my son enjoyed his big bowl of
ramen noodles, a special treat we had from time to time at the Bondi Junction Westfield food court.
‘No, we have to go, now. A man just told me there is a guy with a knife downstairs… he
stabbed someone and is coming this way. ’
As we stood and prepared to leave, I reminded our son about his shopping item,
'You haven’t got your new football boots. Quick, grab them.’ Little did we know we were soon to be confronted with a Mass Murderer at Bondi Junction Westfield.
Movement, confusion, panic… we began walking quickly from the food court towards K-Mart on Level 5 of Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre, in the direction the unknown shopper recommended. There were people in a panic, running in the same direction, yet confusingly, there were people also moving in the opposite direction. One was an old man with a walking frame, moving slowly. My wife told him to turn around and go in the direction we were heading, the old man refused. Another man walking alongside the old man, who we presumed to be his son, shared that it was okay and signaled for us to continue.
Movement, confusion, panic… we began walking quickly from the food court towards K-Mart on Level 5 of Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre, in the direction the unknown shopper recommended.
We continued our path towards K-Mart. In the commotion our youngest daughter was
bumped by another larger, frightened shopper who was running. The person stood on her thong (flip-flop) and she returned to collect it without thinking. Our family unit was broken as she fell five metres behind. I knew that this was not ideal and that we couldn't allow this to happen again. We regrouped and as a family were once again moving. In the panic, anxiety grew, and our children wanted to run also. My wife held our children’s hands and reminded them to be calm. We reiterated for everyone to remain calm and that it was important we stay together. Our journey continued towards K Mart.
The safety of my family was priority. Thoughts rushed through my mind – I was very much aware of the seriousness of the situation and sense of urgency required, yet I knew that a calm demeanor was imperative. As the parents, we needed to keep calm, think clearly and stay together. If we panicked, then this would have a ripple effect and influence our children’s emotions. I had learnt the value of calmness from my time in Brunei working for the British Ministry of Defence in school leadership and from friendships formed with members of the British Forces. I had many questions without answers, such as: Are we moving away from danger or towards danger? Should we go into a shop, or would we become cornered? Was it just one knifeman or were there multiple? Where are security and/or the police and how much longer will they be?
We continued to move swiftly but calmly, I walked behind my wife and three children as I
surveyed for signs of imminent danger. As shop keepers continued shutting their doors
hastily, the feeling of anxiety grew, something was not right, danger felt close. ‘Keep calm, stay together and we will be fine’, this was the verbal and non-verbal message we steadily and repetitively shared with our children. We were only walking for approximately 30 seconds but it felt like minutes…
Are we moving away from danger or towards danger? Should we go into a shop, or would we become cornered? Was it just one knifeman or were there multiple? Where are security and/or the police and how much longer will they be?
Then I saw motion to my left, my view partially obstructed by the Boost Juice store. As I
looked, I saw a man chasing another on the opposite side of the floor, the man being
chased accelerated away. I recognized the person chasing... We walked past him earlier
(approximately 1:30 pm), out the front of Chemist Warehouse on Oxford Street – next to the Apple Store. Immediately, I identified him as the man with the knife everyone was running away from.
As mentioned, our paths had already crossed, and it was a salient crossing because he
was wearing an Australian Kangaroos National Rugby League (NRL) jersey. Supplementing the Kangaroos jersey was the fact that he was also wearing football shorts, if they were not Australian Kangaroos NRL shorts then they were a similar colour green. It did appear to be the whole Australian Kangaroos NRL kit, which in the Australian context is unusual, unless you are a player. I did think at the time that he could be someone with mental health issues, this is not uncommon in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
My first thought was that he was a sports fan, specifically a NRL supporter, as the Sydney City Roosters Club was also nearby, in Spring Street. However, after witnessing his behaviour with a knife in a public place, I did wonder later if he was attempting to send a message? I too was a football fan, all codes and was wearing my beloved Geelong Football Club (Australian Football League (AFL)) players tracksuit top (with hood), this was supplemented with a black cap. The black cap belonged to my son which he gave me to mind earlier that same day, as he played his football (soccer) game for Queen’s Park at Queen’s Park. We walked to the Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre from Queen's Park. My Geelong tracksuit top (hoodie) was unzipped and open, underneath I was wearing a Manchester City Premier League soccer jersey. While I had played Australian Rules Football, Rugby League and Rugby Union over many years, Manchester City Football Club was a team and sport I had been introduced to by my son, who is a passionate soccer player and fan.
The man in the Australian Kangaroos NRL jersey, who we now know to be Joel Cauchi, was holding a weapon, a long 30 cm hunting knife (Ka-Bar knife). I thought to myself if we keep moving and stay together as we are, it will all be fine. I didn’t want to run, for if a child slipped or turned another way, our family unit could become broken again. The children would be an easy target and I wouldn’t be able to physically protect my family members. My wife was unbelievably strong under the circumstances. She must have been terrified but she didn't show it. As mothers do, she instinctively protected her children by keeping them close and calm.
My initial thought was that Joel Cauchi was having a bad day, problems with self-regulation and that the police and/or security guards would arrive at any moment. Findings from the coronial inquest have illustrated the fallibilities of the Westfield security and subsequent problems this caused for the emergency services. Hence, I have since identified the reasons why they were not present. Mental health issues and homelessness are prevalent in Eastern Sydney, especially in the nearby suburb of Randwick where at the time, we were residing.
In Sydney, and Randwick specifically, high housing costs, a shortage of affordable housing, and broader economic and social factors have been driving an increase in homelessness over the past few years. When we first arrived in Randwick in July 2023, my eldest daughter wanted to help those 'living rough' in Belmore Road, Randwick. One Saturday morning after we had been shopping for groceries, she purchased a drink and snack and offered them to a homeless gentleman who was sitting on a corner, which he had set up as his quarters. The gentleman was sitting with a blanket around him and he looked directly at my daughter, a sweet and innocent child. He aggressively yelled at her to 'Fu** off!' This was very confusing for my compassionate daughter and her siblings. There were also other occasions where homeless people with mental health conditions approached and questioned my children which was similarly, a frightening experience for them. Hence, from such experiences, our children did not feel safe when we walked down Belmore Road. Unfortunately, my eldest daughter was required to do this independently every day when she began Secondary School - as she walked to school. We purchased a mobile phone, specifically to increase her safety.
Hence, we as a family had been in similar situations to this one in Bondi Junction Shopping Centre. However, this time was a first as the man was holding a knife - it was life threatening. Although we could see the knifeman clearly, he was still a distance away. Then, Cauchi doubled back. He ran at another gentleman standing in front of Boost Juice but fortunately the gentleman skittled away. Next, the knifeman looked up, saw our family and much to my regret, began running towards us. This all happened rather suddenly and there were no police or security in sight, nor was there any immediate assistance. As experts in the Coronial Inquest have shared people in this pressure moment may freeze, may film on their phones or another action that puts themselves or others in danger, may take flight, or may fight.
An individual's initial reaction to an attack may vary depending on a variety of facts
including their situational awareness, the reaction of those around them and
whether they have rehearsed their response. Stress and fear will cause different
reactions in individuals and may diminish their ability to process information and
make decisions. (Coronial Inquest, 2025, p. 1324).
Naturally and defensively, I turned and began moving towards the knifeman, Joel Cauchi. I didn’t have time to think about this action, it just happened automatically. I knew that I had to form a barrier, stopping him from getting through, protecting my family and any civilians beyond. My plan was to tackle him if he got close enough and use my weight to bring him to ground, even if it meant getting stabbed. From looking at Joel Cauchi’s physique, there was no question I was stronger, but I was also aware that when people are in adrenaline filled rages, they can uncover incredible strength. My immediate concern, given the length of the knife, was that Cauchi had far greater reach than I. I also knew that time was of the essence, and any time I could stall the knifeman meant that help would be closer.
A strange feeling came over me as I confronted Joel Cauchi in Bondi Junction Westfield, a
thought that this was the moment, the moment that my life was about to end. Strange,
because the thought of death for me personally, is usually associated with fear and
avoidance. However, on this occasion I felt calm and comfortable with this possibility.
While I would do my best to not be stabbed, I did accept the dangerous situation I found
myself in, to be part of God’s plan. Furthermore, I did not feel alone but rather was being guided by a familiar force.
Stress and fear will cause different reactions in individuals and may diminish their ability to process information and make decisions.
As Joel Cauchi approached, I said and suggested verbally and non-verbally, in a
compassionate and empathetic manner, ‘It’s OK, It’s OK. Calm Down.’ His movements and unpredictability were like that of a wild animal, however, Cauchi did not sense fear by my presence or that of the guiding force alongside me. I showed him my open hands and held out my arms, suggesting I had no weapons. ‘I am not going to hurt you.’ I said faintly. I approached from the side as much as possible, not to be perceived as a threat. This I knew from my experience as an educator to be the correct practice for managing children and adults in distress, de-escalating without making physical contact.
As I looked at Joel Cauchi, I couldn’t help but notice that he was avoiding direct eye contact with me. His eyes were staring and beady, they were looking deep beyond me. The knifeman was very different to the Joel Cauchi captured on video and shared during the coronial inquest. There was an absence of personality, the knifeman was in a trance, a psychosis. I thought at the time that he was looking at my two daughters, son and wife but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything. Then suddenly, Joel Cauchi made the split-second decision to abort his attack and ran around my family and I, continuing a different path.
At the time I thought that perhaps it was because of the children that he decided to move in a different direction. Later, I became aware how far from the truth this was, reading reports that the mass murderer stabbed a 6 month old baby girl on the floor below. Seconds later the police officer, Amy Scott and civilians in support followed. I did point in the direction that Joel Cauchi had run, but they were already aware of exactly where he had gone.
As the Bondi Junction Coronial Inquest has evidenced, so many things went wrong for so
many people on Saturday April 13th, 2024. A dark and horrific day where seven people died at Bondi Junction Westfield. In what the coronial inquest has described as a floridly
psychotic murdering rampage - Joel Cauchi, a schizophrenic, stabbed to death Ashlee
Goode, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Faraz Tahir. While another 10 people (including a 6 month old baby girl) were stabbed, they have since physically recovered. Joel Cauchi was shot and killed by Police Inspector Amy Scott, identified by the inquest as heroic under the circumstances and one that saved many lives. Evidence has confirmed that Joel Cauchi did not appear to target women but ‘whoever was in his way’. Furthermore, he had searched online for serial killers and mass killings leading up to this tragedy.
Evidence has confirmed that Joel Cauchi did not appear to target women but ‘whoever was in his way’.
There is no explanation for why Joel Cauchi did not attack and stab me or my wife, two
daughters and son. As a barrier on the path, there is no question that I was in his way.
Furthermore, out of the thousands of people at Bondi Junction Westfield, how was it that we even found ourselves that close to him? As Police Inspector Amy Scott stated when referring to her active armed offender training, "police look at a 60 to 70 per cent chance of non-survival if you're partnered and vested up". With no viewable partner, no vest, no gun, no bollard, my only possible hope was de-escalation. Personally, I can’t help but think it was miraculous, a divine intervention, that we were not physically harmed. It appears from the photos and footage that I was alone but I was not alone. The first thing I did after the attack was attend Saturday vigil Mass at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Randwick, to reflect and thank God for his protection.
As a family we decided to keep a distance from attention around this horrific event. Innocent people were stabbed and/or attacked immediately prior to and immediately following our encounter... within seconds. We were extremely fortunate and are most grateful. Footage of our confrontation with Joel Cauchi was capteured by a mobile phone and has been aired around the globe. Thousands of people have shared their thoughts and/or support on social media.
While the Coronial Inquest has investigated and provided answers to many questions about this day, it hasn’t and won’t provide answers to all questions such as why Joel Cauchi stabbed and killed innocent daughters, mums, babies, sisters and brothers and why only some members of the public were protected?
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