Two men have detailed the moment they were stabbed by Bourke Street attacker Hassan Khalif Shire Ali during his deadly Melbourne rampage.
Shire Ali was shot and killed by police after blowing up his car, fatally stabbing Sisto Malaspina and injuring two others in the CBD on November 9, 2018.
One of his surviving victims, Rodney Patterson, was on the phone when he heard an explosion, saw a ute on fire and rushed to help.
Mr Patterson couldn't see anyone in the vehicle before a man lunged at him with a knife.
"I put my hand up to my head and could feel it was wet, I looked at my left hand and it was covered in blood," Mr Patterson said in documents released by Victoria's Coroners Court on Thursday.
"I had blood streaming from my head and I couldn't slow it down."
Shire Ali also attacked security guard Shadi, who previously requested his surname not be used. He later told police the chaotic and bloody scene was the "randomest (sic) thing I've ever experienced".
"Out of nowhere, this guy with a knife came in, stabbed me in the neck," he said.
"I pushed him off me. I ran away.
"He was trying to follow me but I got away from him.
"After that the police were there. I ran back to tell police to pretty much shoot him 'cause he was going berserk. Even the police couldn't control him."
State Coroner John Cain is investigating what led to the attack, whether it was terrorism and if Shire Ali was radicalised.
The 30-year-old was considered a national security person of interest, and flagged by counter-terror police as potentially violent and armed.
He was to be arrested the day after the rampage.
Shire Ali's family said he had become increasingly paranoid and mentally unstable.
"I wish that we had gotten Hassan more psychiatric help. I wish that authorities could have helped Hassan earlier, if they were worried about him," said one family member, whose name was withheld.
A witness to the attack described how she tried to comfort Mr Malaspina as he died.
"I held his head and (was) stroking his brow as you do to someone who has been hurt and sad," Maria said.
She repeatedly told Mr Malaspina "I am so sorry".
"I then with a gentle touch marked the sign of a crucifix on his brow," she said.
"This was my way of giving this poor man a blessing for the horror that he had been through."
Mr Malaspina was described by his son, David, as "dependable and reliable and loved by all who knew him".
"My father was a great dad; he was hard working but loving and dedicated to his wife, children and family.
"He set a great example to those who knew him and those around him."
Australian Associated Press
