Schoolboy, 18, brutally hacked with machetes in Melbourne e-bike ambush

Published: 01:07, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 01:07, 7 August 2026 A Melbourne schoolboy who was brutally hacked with machetes by masked thugs during an attempted e-bike theft has spoken about the terrifying moment he thought he was going to die. The teenager, who has not been named, was riding his e-bike at JW Manson Reserve in Wantirna, in the city's outer east, at 6.15pm on June 20 when two attackers ambushed him.  'I was out riding my e-bike, stopped to check my phone, and was knocked off my bike from behind,' the victim, who turned 18 this week, told the Herald Sun. 'They started swinging the machetes at me when I was on the ground. 'I was extremely shocked, but I knew what was happening and managed to get up [and] run away, leaving my bike behind. 'They chased me down, saying stuff like, 'Oi just kill him right now' and 'Quick, quick, just kill him'.' The boy was slashed across his back several times before one of the attackers plunged a blade into his left shoulder. 'I thought they were going to kill me and was begging them not to and asking them why they were doing this. They then got on my e-bike and rode away,' he said. A teenage boy was sitting on his e-bike when he was attacked with machetes  He required several surgeries and spent a week in hospital recovering from the ordeal CCTV captured the thugs riding through Melbourne's eastern suburbs on June 20 The boy said he staggered to a nearby street, where he received assistance from passers-by before being taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  He required several surgeries and spent a week in hospital recovering. The attackers took off with the e-bike, which is valued at around $10,000, and his mobile phone.  Victoria Police have launched an appeal for the public's help to identify the boy's attackers after CCTV footage showed them riding through Melbourne's eastern suburbs that day. Knox CIU Senior Sergeant Samuel Beard said locating the two offenders is his unit's top priority.  'The sheer and immediate violence in the attack is just reprehensible. It's absolutely disgusting,' he said. 'Any small piece of information might be the final piece of the puzzle we need.' The attack comes nine months after Victoria removed a machete safe disposal bin program that enabled people to surrender the weapons safely and without consequence. Police have asked anyone with information about the attack to come forward  The Victorian Government said 14,000 weapons were taken off the streets thanks to the machete safe disposal program The teenager said he believes machetes are now common among young people in Melbourne and he does not think there is an ‘effective solution’ to machete violence.  It is illegal to own, use, carry, transport, buy and sell machetes in Victoria, unless you are covered by an exemption or valid approval. If found in possession of a machete, Victorians can face up to two years in jail or a fine of over $48,000. Anyone who witnessed the attack or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.