Helen Haines’s condition improves days after losing both legs from alleged attack

Independent MP now serious but stable, according to update from Melbourne’s Alfred hospital

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Independent MP Helen Haines’s condition has been downgraded to serious but stable after she lost both legs following an alleged attack near her electorate office in north-east Victoria on Monday afternoon.

The Alfred hospital in Melbourne provided an update on Haines’s condition on Saturday morning.

“The patient is in a serious but stable condition at The Alfred on Saturday morning,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.

Haines, the federal MP for the Victorian seat of Indi, had been in a critical but stable condition after she was struck by a car in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Surgeons were trying to save her right leg but both legs had to be amputated due to the seriousness of her injuries.

The MP’s husband, Phil Haines, provided an update at the Alfred hospital on Wednesday, saying “both her heart and her mind are in good shape.”

“I think when we reflect and talk about and think about Helen, the two most important parts of Helen for us as a family are her heart and her mind,” he said.

“Her heart is huge. She is a very compassionate, caring, loving person. Incredibly supportive of all around her – her family, her community, anybody she comes across. And her mind. She has the sharpest intellect.”

Police on Tuesday charged Brendan Nugent, 43, from nearby Tarrawingee with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally cause serious injury and the commonwealth offence of causing harm to a commonwealth public official. Police have since charged him with two additional offences – cultivating and possessing cannabis – according to court documents.

Nugent appeared at the Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail.

On Friday, an update on Haines’s social media accounts said her staff were working to reopen her electorate offices next Thursday. “What happened on Monday has deeply affected Helen’s family and all of her staff. Many of us witnessed the incident and some were among the first to come to her aid,” the post read.

“As Helen takes the time she needs to recover, we will take time to look after ourselves and one another, too. Healing will take time, and we ask for your understanding as we navigate the days and weeks ahead.”

Haines’ staff said they had been overwhelmed with kindness shown by the local community in Indi and across Australia and the globe. They said more than $730,000 had been raised for Save the Children in Haines’ honour after her husband directed people to donate to the special appeal as his wife recovered.

“We are deeply moved by the extraordinary generosity of so many people,” the post read.

The alleged attack on Haines has reverberated through Australian politics, prompting conversations about the temperature of political debat, security risks for MPs and mental health services in regional Victoria.

WA Police charged a 56-year-old man after allegedly threatening staff and wielding nunchucks at the electoral office of the the state’s local government minister, Hannah Beazley, days after the alleged attack on Haines.

A community vigil was held for Haines in Wodonga on Wednesday evening after it was revealed the MP had lost both her legs following Monday’s alleged attack.

Haines’s predecessor as the federal member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, said on the sidelines of the event the community was grappling with “mixed emotions”.