The 26-year-old security guard who was stabbed in the neck by terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali on Melbourne's Bourke Street last week says he tried to defend himself but there was too much blood.
In an interview with Victoria Police, the security guard Shadi, who only wanted his first name used, said Shire Ali came out of nowhere.
"After that everything was just very quick, it was just a blur at the time," Shadi said of the attack on Friday.
"Everyone was screaming and running, then out of nowhere … I got attacked.
"I didn't even have time to react. He straight away stabbed me, tried to kill me, he hit me in the neck."
Despite his injuries, Shadi said he was worried about Shire Ali attacking other innocent bystanders.
"The attacker was on the loose, stabbing people for no reason, no cause whatsoever."
'Too much blood'
"My main concern was to make sure he does not attack any more civilians, innocent people, to save their lives," he said.
But Shadi, covered in blood and struggling to see, had to run away to save himself.
"I tried to defend the attacker off, but I couldn't defend myself anymore."
"There was too much blood on me. I couldn't physically see out of the left side of my eye, I had to get out of there."
He said he was lucky to have gotten away alive.
"If I stayed there, different story," he said. "I had to think quickly."
Shire Ali stabbed three men during last Friday's terror attack — fatally wounding Pellegrini's Espresso Bar co-owner Sisto Malaspina — before he was shot in the chest by police and later died in hospital
Tasmanian man Rod Patterson, who was stabbed in the head by Shire Ali, survived the attack and released a statement from the Alfred Hospital over the weekend where he said he was receiving "fantastic care".
A state funeral for Mr Malaspina will be held next Tuesday morning at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Shadi said he would now like to become a police officer after the experience, to help others.
The 26-year-old from Hampton Park has been a security guard for three years. He had been working at a Bourke Street venue for a month.
He was treated in hospital for stab wounds and released on Sunday, but has not yet returned to work.
Police said Shadi asked them to film the interview because he was "quite overwhelmed by media and was very nervous telling his story".
He has asked that his privacy be respected.
Police said he was now spending time with his family and friends.
