Phil Haines has revealed his wife, Australian MP Helen Haines, 65, lost both legs following an alleged targeted car attack outside her office.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Urr-lTwFVs
The independent federal politician was struck by a vehicle in Wangaratta, northwest of Melbourne, on Monday. Surgeons amputated her left leg that same day, her husband confirmed. After doctors abandoned hope of saving her right leg, it was removed on Wednesday.
“The good news in all this is that Helen is alive and she’s stable. That is the most important thing for our family,” Phil Haines told press in Melbourne.
“We are grateful and thankful that at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape,” he continued.
Haines remains hospitalized in Melbourne as she begins what her family faces as a long recovery.
Brendan Nugent, the man charged over the incident, appeared in court following the attack. The suspect faces three charges: intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury, and causing harm to a federal official.
Nugent did not apply for bail or enter a plea during the hearing. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February.
His lawyer, Chirag Patel, told the court his client was suffering from mental health issues and a concussion at the time of the alleged offense. Patel added that Nugent has idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological condition that damages the spinal cord’s protective myelin sheath and disrupts nerve signals between the brain and body.
Symptoms of the condition can include rapid muscle weakness, sensory loss, pain, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, according to Cleveland Clinic medical centre.
The attack on Haines has drawn attention to the risks faced by public officials in Australia. Wangaratta, a city of roughly 19,000 people in Victoria state, is part of the electorate Haines has represented since 2019.
Haines made history as the first independent MP to win the rural Victorian seat of Indi in decades, taking it from the conservative Liberal Party. She has been a prominent advocate for rural health services and anti-corruption measures.
The vehicle incident occurred outside her electorate office, a location where constituents regularly meet with their representative. Federal police and Victorian state authorities are investigating the circumstances.
The court heard no application for bail from Nugent’s side. His lawyer’s disclosures about his medical conditions suggest mental health and neurological factors may feature in future proceedings.
Haines’ husband has emerged as the family’s public voice during the crisis, providing medical updates while emphasizing his wife’s resilience. His comments about her mental and cardiac stability appeared aimed at reassuring supporters amid grave physical news.
The February court date will likely bring further details about the prosecution’s case and any defense strategy. Nugent remains in custody until that hearing.
The double amputation marks a devastating turn for a politician who built her reputation on accessibility and constituency service. Her medical team in Melbourne continues treatment and planning for rehabilitation.
Haines’ family has not indicated any timeline for her potential return to parliamentary duties.