KOTA KINABALU: Relatives and friends of an Australian man badly injured in an attack at Kampung Kiwoi, Tamparuli yesterday have appealed for blood donations.
Daniel Broadhurst, who is a diving instructor and married to a Sabahan, sustained grave injuries after he was attacked by a man with a machete, and is currently being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1.
Broadhurst’s loved ones have turned to Facebook to appeal to netizens to donate O+ blood to help him.
According to Queen Elizabeth Hospital director Dr William Gotulis, Broadhurst has undergone a blood transfusion and is currently in stable condition.
"If the public wish to donate blood, they can do so. The public are encouraged to become regular donors," he said.
In the 2.30pm attack yesterday, Broadhurst had been engaged in an argument with a man who suddenly grabbed a machete and began hacking at him.
The suspect later fled the scene and has gone into hiding.
Broadhurst was discovered bloodied and lying on the ground near a forest by villagers, who rushed to his aide and alerted the authorities.
Speaking to NSTP, Tuaran police chief Deputy Superintendent Dzulbaharin Ismail said they have identified the suspect based on descriptions provided by villagers.
“At the moment, we know that the victim lives in the village and that he own a house, as well as a farm. We don’t know how long he has been living there.
“We are also looking into whether the victim and suspect knew each other. Our focus is now on catching the suspect,” he said, adding that police have yet to record a statement from Broadhurst and his family members.
There is speculation that the suspect is a foreigner who had trespassed into Broadhurst’s land, but police are unable to confirm this.