Truck driver whose throat was slit by a FIFO worker during a shopping centre rampage reveals how he stopped the crazed man from stabbing a young mother and her baby
- Ashley Fildes was gunned down by police after the violent rampage on May 1
- The 34-year-old, in hi-vis workwear, was seen pacing through a shopping centre
- The rampage occurred at South Hedland Square in WA's Pilbara region on Friday
- Konrad Frost, 39, had his throat slit by the FIFO worker during the rampage
- He is being praised as a hero for distracting Fildes as he attacked strangers
A truck driver whose throat was slit by a FIFO worker inside a shopping centre has revealed how he saved a young mum and her baby from the crazed knifeman.
Konrad Frost, 39, is being praised as a hero for distracting Ashley Fildes, 34, as he attacked strangers at South Hedland in Western Australia on May 1.
The FIFO worker stabbed five people inside the local shopping centre as well as a man at a nearby motel and another in a car at a McDonald's carpark before being shot dead by police.
Mr Frost said he vividly remembered Fildes approaching Kimberley Abbott and her 14-month-old daughter moments after being stabbed in the neck while shopping.
In a desperate attempt to save the young mother's life, Mr Frost yelled at the knifeman in the hopes of distracting him from the other shoppers.
Ashley Fildes (pictured), 34, was gunned down by police after stabbing seven shopper at South Hedland shopping centre in Western Australia on May 1
Mr Frost barely remembers anything about the day he was stabbed in the neck while grocery shopping, but said he recollects Fildes approaching Kimberly Abbott and her 14-month-old daughter (pictured)
'I remember him swinging at me again but he missed, and that's when I just started yelling at him,' Mr Frost told 9News.
'Yeah, she was the hero...she protected her, even while she was being attacked.'
The rampage came to an end when FIFO worker Ashley Dean Fildes, 34, was shot dead by police.
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Mr Frost was the worst injured with a slash to his neck and was flown to Royal Perth Hospital for emergency surgery where he was placed in a coma.
The injury was so deep that it has taken him more than two weeks to start talking and eating again.
'I wasn't too sure where he actually struck me but I think the adrenaline kicked in and yeah felt like I had a second wind or something,' Mr Frost said.
Fildes' parents said they did not hold any grudges against the police who shot him dead.
Konrad Frost (pictured), 39, is being praised as a hero for distracting knifeman Ashley Fildes, 34, who embarked on a terrifying rampage at South Hedland in Western Australia
Officers opened fire on the father-of-one in what the police union described as a 'textbook' shooting, which was fatal.
In a statement to 7NEWS after the horrific incident Fildes' parents said their thoughts were with the victims and their families.
'Our sympathy goes out to everyone in Hedland and all the victims, especially the man still in hospital,' the parents said.
'We hold no grudge against police.'
The father-of-one had been in an altercation with his boss just hours before the violent rampage, according to a distraught relative who did not want to be named.
Fildes had been suffering from a 'deep depression', his marriage had fallen apart and the AAA Asphalt worker had an altercation with his supervisor on the morning of the attack.
In a desperate attempt to save the young mother's live Mr Frost yelled at the knifeman in the hopes of distracting him from the other shoppers
The 34-year-old, wearing high-vis workwear, can be seen pacing through the South Hedland shopping centre in Western Australia on Friday brandishing a large kitchen knife
The violent rampage began at the Lodge Motel, where he was staying, before moving to the shopping centre
Following the dispute, a colleague drove Fildes from the work site and dropped him at the Lodge Motel where he had been staying. It was there the father-of-one grabbed the long knife and began his violent attack.
He chased motel staff and other guests with the knife before stabbing his first victim.
He then moved to the McDonald's car park at the shopping centre where he stabbed a man in a car, before continuing through the mall and to Kmart.
Dramatic footage showed Fildes, who was dressed in hi-vis workwear, pacing through the centre brandishing the large kitchen knife.
The attack ended when Fildes was shot dead by police.
Major crime detectives are investigating whether Fildes experienced a psychotic episode.
David Derschow (pictured, right) said his girlfriend Esther Brooks (left) were stabbed by the knifeman on Friday morning at a Western Australian shopping centre
Esther Brooks (pictured) shared shocking pictures of her wound with Daily Mail Australia, after being stabbed in the back by a crazed stranger
Fildes, who is the father of a young girl, was on his first week of a new FIFO swing.
His marriage had broken down in recent years and he suffered from depression.
A relative told The West Australian Fildes was a 'beautiful, beautiful soul' and the violent rampage was out-of-character.
'He's just not that kind of person. He's just mellow and lovely. I know he had a lot of trauma in his life. The last few years have been really tough for him, but he's not a violent person,' she said.
'There is just no way on this earth that Ashley could do something like this. He doesn't hurt people — he helps people.
'He was deeply depressed but never ever in my wildest dreams would I ever think he would hurt another human being.'
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