A father-of-two has been left for dead after a second stabbing attack at his small corner store on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Emergency services were called to Carmichael's General Store in Wyong just before 9:30am this morning to treat the owner who had been stabbed multiple times during an attempted robbery.
Detective Inspector Steve Laksa said two men and one woman entered the store, while a second woman waited outside.
They later fled on foot and were last seen heading east on Warner Avenue.
"We do know the male victim was held, we do know the male victim was stabbed, we don't know how many times he was stabbed, but we know it was a callous attack," Detective Inspector Laksa said.
"We believe he's lucky to be alive.
"There's a number of police upstairs at the moment with blood over them — the victim's blood."
The 41-year-old was in a critical condition when paramedics arrived.
He was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital where he was stabilised and remains in a serious condition.
Local resident Christa said the incident was shocking.
"He's a loving, caring person, [with] two beautiful children," she said.
"He will bend over backwards for anyone.
"I just can't believe it's come this."
The same victim was stabbed at the corner store in 2010.
Police said the perpetrator in that particular incident had been charged and received a five-year jail sentence.
There are fears amongst residents about the safety of the community, who were left reeling after a fatal shooting just metres away about two years ago.
