Mum’s love for stabbed son …

By Bridget Cook
ANNA Ruisi fears for her 17-year-old son’s safety every time he leaves their home.
Her worries were realised when her son Paul Iovan was stabbed at the Springvale Community Summer Festival in February.
Ms Ruisi, a mother of three, said she always warned her children to be careful these days with attacks involving weapons more common among young people.
“They have this attitude that it not going to happen to them,” she said.
“But I’ve told them all it takes is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time … and it’s usually the people who have nothing to do with it that get hurt.”
Ms Ruisi received the feared call from The Alfred hospital about 12.30am on 21 February to say her son had been admitted with life-threatening injuries and required emergency surgery.
“It was like a nightmare … I was almost asleep when I got the call, I thought I was dreaming,” she said.
Paul is now recovering well at his Narre Warren home, although he was re-admitted to The Alfred soon after he was discharged when his condition deteriorated.
Ms Ruisi said Paul was about to leave the Burden Park festival when one of his friends was king-hit from behind.
Dandenong police, who are investigating the assault, said the boy fell to the ground where he was repeatedly kicked and punched.
Ms Ruisi said Paul stepped into to help his friend but was then set upon by the attackers.
“My son was covering his head and body while he was being punched,” she said.
“Paul didn’t even know he had been stabbed because of the adrenalin … he just though they were body shots.”
Ms Ruisi said it shocked family and friends to hear Paul had been stabbed.
“He’s not the kind of to go out and fight,” she said.
“He’s a peacemaker … he’s known as the funny kid.
“He just wanted to enjoy a night out with friends and it turned into a tragedy.”
This was not the only incident of its kind to occur at the Springvale Community Summer Festival.
Police are appealing for witnesses to another serious assault which occurred about 15 minutes before the attack on Paul and his friends, which they believe involved men from the same group.
Police said the first incident occurred about 10.30pm when a 17-year-old man and his girlfriend were set upon by a group of about 12 men.
The victim was repeatedly kicked and punched and was slashed across the back of his head and neck with a sharp-bladed object as he tried to protect his 16-year-old girlfriend.
He was taken to Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition and released the following morning.
Police said the offenders were of Asian appearance.
Police are appealing for those involved in the two assaults to come forward and identify the ring-leaders.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.