MP loses legs but ‘heart and mind in good shape’, husband says
Helen Haines’ husband has paid an emotional tribute to his wife as he shares a update on the independent MP’s condition.
Source: AAP
Helen Haines’ husband has shared a heartbreaking update on the independent MP’s second leg, which surgeons had hoped to save.
Phil Haines said on Wednesday afternoon that his wife’s right leg had also been amputated, after she lost her left leg on Monday.
“What took place on Monday was a horrendous incident, and as you know, it’s caused Helen significant injuries,” said Haines, a farmer and agricultural scientist.
“As a result of that, Helen’s left leg was amputated on Monday.
“We had been hoping her right leg would be saved, but as of this afternoon or this morning, the surgeons also had to remove her right leg.”
But he said Haines was a “fighter” and the “most important” thing for her family was that she was alive and stable.
“We are grateful and thankful that, at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape,” he said.
The incident happened just weeks before the couple were due to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next month.
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“Thanks to [the] many people who have been incredibly supportive of our family the last two days since this horrendous incident took place … we will need that over the next few days and beyond,” Phil Haines said.
He paid an emotional tribute to his wife.
“Her heart is huge — she is a very compassionate, caring, loving person, incredibly supportive of all around her,” he said.
“Her mind — she has the sharpest intellect. She has always had the most intense desire to learn, to read, to synthesise and to understand what’s going on.”
Governor-General Sam Mostyn, a close friend of Haines, said she had gived the King regular updates on the “shocking” situation.
In strong comments on public discourse, Mostyn called on Australians to “relearn” how to be decent to one another and to “disagree well”.
“Australians have good hearts, great hearts, and checking each of ourselves to ensure that we are, in fact, disagreeing well, not fighting with one another, not descending into violence and chaos and division,’’ Mostyn said.
“Most importantly, that we learn or relearn to exercise our muscle of decency.
“Australians are yearning for kindness and care. And they’re asking us why we’ve lost the great skill of disagreeing well and with decency to each other.
“Our democracy, the great Australian democracy, has always relied on passionate and robust debate.”
Mostyn said she had discussed the importance of civil debate and civic engagement with Haines during a meeting in her electorate earlier in October.
The man accused of deliberately running down the MP will remain behind bars for months while the alleged attack is investigated by counter-terrorism authorities.
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Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm, intentionally causing serious harm, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official over the incident, which left Haines fighting for her life.
It’s alleged he intentionally struck the 65-year-old MP with his Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, on Monday afternoon.
During Nugent’s brief court appearance on Wednesday, his lawyer Chirag Patel said the man suffered a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis, caused by a swollen spinal chord, as well as concussion.
Nugent has not been diagnosed with mental health problems, but Patel said he was worried about his psychological wellbeing and wanted him to see a medical practitioner.
Nugent sat quietly in the dock in the packed courtroom, his mouth shut and dark circles around his eyes.
Cultivating and possessing marijuana were among the charges on his rap sheet, court documents show.
Nugent did not apply for bail. He was remanded in custody to return to court in February.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush said on Wednesday that the possibility of further charges, including attempted murder, had not been ruled out.
Nugent’s former primary school teacher on Wednesday said the accused attacker had been a good kid, but probably had deeper-seated issues.
Jacquie, who preferred not to give her surname, described him as withdrawn, but “beautiful, like most of the kids were”.
Bush said authorities were also investigating any prior personal personal relationship between Haines and Nugent.
“We’re examining social media associations, talking to witnesses, friends and colleagues,” he said.
Immediately after she was hit by the large off-roader, Haines was still talking and thanking bystanders who intervened, eyewitnesses have reported.
Jacob Evans and Jacklyn Black, who were visiting Wangaratta from Melbourne, rushed to Haines’ side on Monday despite not knowing her “from a bar of soap”, they said.
“She was thanking us and calling us beautiful people,” Black said.
-with AAP
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