Swift action saved woman with exposed organs

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A MAN has been arrested in North Fly after alleged stabbing his former wife with a sharp object which penetrated her shoulder and exposed her internal organs, nearly killing her.
Only quick action by health extension officer kept the woman alive, and a call to police commander Chief Insp Silva Sika saw a helicopter sent by the district office with the commander of Bosset village down the Fly River.
“The woman was stabbed after returning from visiting her relatives at Bosset village, according to relatives. The woman and her ex-husband have been separated for a while now, and she has not been in contact with him,” Chief Insp Sika said.
“She was walking back between 7pm and 8pm to her home and kids when the ex-husband came from behind her and using a sharp weapon (which he allegedly picked up during a renovation of a health clinic) he plunged it into the right side shoulder of the woman.
“After he wounded her, he ran away. The woman’s screams of pain alerted the other villagers who rushed to her aid, the HEO (health officer) managed to stop the bleeding, but because of the pain, the woman was unable to lie on her back and had to be supported by her female relatives.
“When I got the call for her medevac, I called the office of the North Fly MP James Donald, who immediately assisted by ensuring a helicopter was on standby. On Sunday morning we flew into Bosset, where we got the victim, who was still in pain, onto the helicopter.
“I told the villagers that the man had to be apprehended and the action taken by him needed to be dealt with by police, but I also thanked the villagers for assisting in saving her life.”