Helen Haines is "a fighter," her husband says after second amputation

Phil Haines describes a long road ahead for the independent MP, while Governor-General Sam Mostyn says the King is being kept informed.

Channel:

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Story of October 22, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 55,092 views a day, 15 times a normal first day on this channel (3,719).

Independent MP Helen Haines loses second leg after attack outside office, her husband confirms.

Helen Haines is alive. That is the first thing her husband, Phil Haines, wants people to hear, even as he confirms that surgeons have now removed both of her legs.

In a press conference excerpt posted by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, he explains that her left leg was amputated on Monday, after the attack outside her office. Since then, "the surgeons had to also remove her right leg." The attack had already drawn a tribute from the prime minister, as we reported here.

"The good news in all this, is Helen is alive and she's stable," Phil Haines says. He describes what his family holds onto: "The two most important parts of Helen, for us as a family, are her heart and her mind." He thanks people for the thousands of supportive messages, then says plainly what comes next: "Helen's road to recovery will be long and difficult, but we know she is a fighter."

Governor-General Sam Mostyn follows him. She speaks about the response from Haines' office and asks people to weigh the shocking actions of one person against the much wider outpouring of care. "I have ensured that His Majesty The King is regularly updated on this shocking moment," she says.

The brief update drew about 52,000 views in its first 21 hours, many times what the channel's Shorts usually reach on a first day.

Published on Trari