The fiancé of a 25-year-old woman, who tragically lost her life in the stabbing incident at Bondi Junction, hurried to the shopping center to assist his colleagues, only to discover that his soon-to-be wife was among the victims.
Dawn Singleton, daughter of advertising magnate John Singleton, was set to wed her high school sweetheart, NSW Police Officer Ashley Wildey, in the upcoming months.
However, Ms. Singleton’s life was abruptly cut short, along with five other shoppers, when she was stabbed at Bondi Junction Westfield by Joel Cauchi, 40, on Saturday afternoon, while shopping for her wedding.
‘She’d just gone in to buy makeup at Chanel, she was only there for 15 minutes, looking at makeup for her wedding,’ a friend told the Daily Telegraph.
Mr. Wildey, who was reportedly on call, rushed to the shopping centre to assist police colleagues with the unfolding situation.
‘He had arrived at Westfield when officers realised his fiancée was one of the victims,’ a source said.
Mr. Wildey was permitted to depart from the scene to seek solace from his family and friends, following standard protocol.
Affectionately nicknamed Dawnie, the 25-year-old is one of Singleton’s three daughters from his marriage to Julie Martin, contributing to his total of eight children.
Just last week, she purchased her wedding gown and began dispatching “save the date” invitations to her cherished ones and acquaintances in anticipation of the momentous occasion.
These sorrowful revelations emerge as Australian fashion titan White Fox Boutique commemorates Ms. Singleton, who served as the company’s e-commerce assistant.
‘Dawn was a sweet, kind-hearted person who had her whole life ahead of her,’ the company wrote on Instagram.
‘She was really amazing. We are all truly devastated by this loss. We send our condolences to her partner, the Singleton family and her friends. She will always be remembered as part of the White Fox family.’
Ms. Singleton became the second victim identified in the harrowing attack, following the revelation that osteopath and first-time mother Ashlee Good, aged 38, had succumbed to her injuries in the hospital on Saturday night.
Ms. Good’s nine-month-old daughter was also wounded in the incident and is currently in a serious but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery. Jade Young, a Double Bay architect and mother of two, was identified as the third victim of the attack on Sunday.
Police were alerted to the shopping precinct at 3:20 pm, where Cauchi, wielding a large hunting knife, pursued men, women, and children.