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Two LDS missionaries are being called heroes in Australia for coming to the aid of a woman who was being brutally attacked.
A police officer said, "I got an idea that they are a couple of heroes. What they dealt with there and then would've been absolutely traumatic."
The missionaries were in the right place at the right time and did the right thing to stop the violent attack. We talked with a returned missionary who knew both of the young men who stepped up to help.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought the story to our attention. It was first broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. We caught up with a man who served with the two missionaries being hailed as heroes.
Elder Phil Bennallack and Elder Zane Beard of Australia were among the first on the scene of a stabbing last week in a town near Perth called Nolamarra. A pregnant woman was under attack by a man repeatedly stabbing her.
Elder Bennallack said, "It's something you never imagine seeing, never hope to see. We're not trained to do this, but we try to help any way, in any circumstance, that we can."
The missionaries lured the attacker away from the woman. An off-duty police officer showed up to help take control of the situation. He believes the missionaries saved the woman's life. The missionaries were glad they could help.
Elder Beard said, "I think it all came together well. It seems everybody was in the right place at the right time to help her out."
Chris Jepsen of Bountiful knows both of the Australian missionaries. Jepsen returned from the Australia Perth Mission just six weeks ago, and his last companion was Elder Bennallack, who actually spent some time in Bountiful.
Jepsen said, "He's a great guy, a great missionary. He works really hard, tries to do his best. I loved serving with him."
Police arrested the woman's ex-husband. He is charged with aggravated assault.
The missionaries actually live in that Perth suburb, but Jepsen says they never felt threatened. "It wasn't the best of areas, but we never had any trouble there. [There were] really nice people that live there," he said.
The victim is in serious condition with multiple stab wounds to her stomach, neck and arms. We don't know about the condition of her unborn child.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
