‘Hell of a fight’: Sister’s update after waitress, 20, stabbed at Brisbane club

A woman stabbed in the head 15 times at a leagues club in Brisbane has revealed the horror she endured during the alleged attack by a colleague who was fired hours earlier for inappropriate behaviour. Zoe Samson-Wood, 20, was working as a waitress at the Easts Leagues Club in Coorparoo about 5.15pm on February 12 when she was allegedly stabbed 15 times by her ex-colleague. The 20-year-old was discharged from Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she received treatment for the 10cm laceration to her head, a 10cm laceration to her wrist and multiple defensive wounds. Former colleague Cameron William Leslie Clark, 33, allegedly entered the leagues club armed with a large knife about 5.10pm and confronted the waitress in the hallway. He allegedly stabbed Ms Samson-Wood several times before stabbing a 61-year-old chef in the stomach who was trying to defend her. Mr Clark then allegedly chased the waitress into the dining area of the club before stabbing her again. Eight diners seated in the club allegedly restrained Mr Clark until police arrived. Mr Clark has since been charged with one count each of attempted murder, unlawful stalking, unlawful wounding, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm or transmit serious disease, and going armed so as to cause fear. In a social media post, Ms Samson-Wood’s sister Ruby said the waitress was hospitalised after “putting up a hell of a fight” against the alleged attacker. She said the attack led to her sister requiring extensive reconstructive surgery due to “nerve damage”. She thanked the patrons and staff who helped her sister during the alleged attack. “ … my heart goes out to you all, especially the man who saved her life and was stabbed in the abdomen as a result,” Ruby wrote online. “Thank you. Thank you to anyone who helped, even if it gave Zoe an extra millisecond to get away, you saved her life.” Ruby said her sister was “immensely brave and strong” to survive the alleged attack. “I share her story not to fear monger or seek pity but to shine light on how immensely brave and strong Zoe is to survive this and to raise awareness of violence against women,” she said. “I am here for every single woman that has been made to feel powerless, especially within their workplace.” About three hours before the alleged attack, Mr Clark was stood down from his job at the club due to inappropriate behaviour. “What I would say is unwanted and unsolicited attention in a way that caused her distress,” Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters on Friday. He said Mr Clark had been subjected to an internal investigation due to his behaviour. “Further to this he had been advised that he had been excluded from that workplace due to his behaviour … and he was advised of that at 2pm yesterday (Thursday) afternoon,” he said. “Despite that exclusion from the work premises he attended at 5.10pm.” Superintendent Massingham described the scene as “confronting” and it “unravelled very quickly”. “We are thankful this morning that the injuries to the victims while serious are not life threatening,” he said. “In addition we commend the brave actions of those persons who put themselves in harms way to restrain the offender.” In a social media post, the Easts Leagues Club their thanked the staff and patrons for their actions during the alleged attack. “We want to acknowledge the bravery and compassion our team, members and community have shown following last night’s incident,” the post read. “Our security processes are robust and we want to reassure that our venue is safe. We are a members’ club, and we are here for our community.”