Inspector Amy Scott, the New South Wales police officer hailed for her bravery during the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, is now confronting a profound personal challenge. It has been confirmed she has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
A Hero's New Battle
The news was announced on Monday by the charity NSW Police Legacy, which stated that Inspector Scott had recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. The organisation highlighted that beyond her dedicated service, Scott is a devoted wife and a loving mother to two young boys.
"Amy now needs the strength, compassion, and support of her community," the charity said in its appeal. "This is a powerful reminder that even our strongest people are human." A fundraiser was swiftly established to ease the financial burden on Scott and her family during her treatment.
Community Rallies with Over £34,000 in Support
By lunchtime on Monday, the community's response had been immediate and generous. The fundraiser organised by Police Legacy had already garnered close to $65,000 (approximately £34,000) in donations. The charity emphasised that the money is intended to support Scott, who they described as having a family that "depends on her and walk this journey beside her every day."
Inspector Scott's heroism stems from her actions on 13 April 2024, when she was the first officer to respond to the mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction. She confronted the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, alone. After Cauchi approached her with a knife, Scott shot him twice. She then attempted to perform CPR on him, but he could not be saved.
Political Leaders Voice Support and Gratitude
The diagnosis has drawn heartfelt responses from across the political spectrum in New South Wales. Premier Chris Minns described Inspector Scott as "a genuine, bona fide Australian hero" to whom the community owes a huge debt of gratitude. "I'm devastated to hear this news. If anyone deserves a break it is Amy and we wish her the very best, she is an absolute champion," Minns stated.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley called Scott "the epitome of the brilliance of the NSW police force," adding that the whole police family was suffering with the knowledge of her diagnosis. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said Scott was now "facing the fight of her life" and urged the community to stand with the officer who had protected them.
For her bravery at Bondi Junction, Inspector Scott was later awarded the Commissioner’s Valour Award for an act of exceptional bravery. The coronial inquest into the attack heard that Cauchi had been treated for schizophrenia and was floridly psychotic at the time. His attack claimed the lives of six people: Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30.
