'Without you I wouldn't be here': Shopkeeper who almost died after being stabbed eight times in robbery has emotional reunion with the paramedics who saved him
- A shopkeeper who almost died in a robbery reunites with men who saved him
- Steve Van Meeteren, 41, was stabbed eight times during a robbery in Wyong
- He fought back tears as he was reunited with Geoff Barnes and Graham Andrews
A NSW Central Coast shopkeeper who almost died after being stabbed eight times during a robbery has had an emotional reunion with the men who saved him.
Steve Van Meeteren, 41, was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed eight times during a bungled robbery at Carmichael's Corner Store in Wyong on April 2.
On Tuesday, the 41-year-old fought back tears as he was reunited with paramedics Geoff Barnes and Graham Andrews who worked tirelessly to save his life.
Steve Van Meeteren, 41 (pictured), was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed eight times during a bungled robbery at Carmichael's Corner Store in Wyong on April 2
'I want to thank you so so much because without you I wouldn't be here,' Mr Van Meeteren said in the emotional reunion captured on 9News.
The emergency response duo were called to the general store by an unknown customer, who found the father-of-three lying in a pool of his own blood.
Police started CPR until Mr Barnes and Mr Andrews arrived on the scene.
They took over before rushing Mr Van Meeteren to meet a Careflight helicopter in nearby Baker Park.
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Before emergency services could transport the 41-year-old to Royal North Shore Hospital, they needed to replace the blood he lost in the ordeal.
Doctors wasted no time and drilled into Mr Van Meeteren's bone marrow ahead of the flight so they could administer a rapid blood transfusion.
Within minutes, they were able to infuse plasma and blood before transporting him to hospital.
Mr Van Meeteren almost died after being stabbed eight times during a robbery in Wyong
On Tuesday, Mr Van Meeteren (pictured) fought back tears as he was reunited with paramedics Geoff Barnes and Graham Andrews who worked tirelessly to save his life
On Tuesday, Mr Barnes described how the situation suddenly became critical for Mr Van Meeteren, who said he couldn't remember the incident.
Fellow paramedic, Mr Andrews told the 41-year-old he was lucky the emergency 'machine' kicked in and performed smoothly like it's supposed to.
'Unfortunately you weren't long for this world in the state that you were in - so we brought you here and waited for the helicopter,' Mr Andrews said.
Mr Van Meeteren, who has worked at the store for more than 10 years, said he doesn't want to step foot back in the store for the time being.
'All I thought was I'm going to die,' he said.
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