Wounded entrepreneur allegedly attacked by ING boyfriend at $500-a-night French hotel reveals he planned to break up: 'We both agreed'

By AIDAN WONDRACZ, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA and CHARLOTTE KARP, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:51, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 23:58, 16 August 2026 An entrepreneur who was allegedly hit over the head with a saucepan and burned with scalding water by his Aussie partner at a luxury French hotel has revealed the pair spoke about separating before the horrifying incident unfolded. Callum Forbes was sleeping when he was allegedly set upon by David Cao, 37, at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel on July 28. 'We had a civil conversation earlier that day, I had raised the issue of separating but I thought we were good,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'There was no argument but we both agreed it wasn't working, we had been together for three and a half years.' The couple paid about $500 for a night in the 'caves room' and planned to travel to Amsterdam for the WorldPride festival the following day - an event supported by Cao's employer, ING.  The pair ate dinner and enjoyed time in the spa before heading to bed, with Mr Forbes describing the alleged attack as a 'nightmare'.  'Strangely I kept sleeping but I was burned, badly burned,' Mr Forbes said. He said he felt 'blows to the side of my head' and 'saw blood everywhere on the floor'. Callum Forbes (left) was sleeping when he was allegedly set upon by David Cao, 37 (right), and left with burns across his torso and arms after scalding water was poured onto him at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel on July 28 The couple paid about $500 for a night in the 'caves room' and planned to travel to Amsterdam for the World Gay Pride festival the following day - an event supported by Cao's employer, ING 'It was a lot to take in when you're asleep and suddenly woken up, it doesn't seem real at first,' Mr Forbes said.  He was left with burns across his torso and arms, second degree burns to his face and a burst eardrum.  'It was horrific, my mum is with me at the hospital, I had to wait 36 hours to call her for help, because he had taken my phone and iPad and passport, I couldn't contact anyone,' he said. 'I thought I'd be disfigured for life and would never look the same again. 'I've got stitches on my face and when I get back to Sydney I will see experts to find out if I will need skin grafts but they've told me here in France the scarring may heal OK. 'I just want to get back home so I can heal. It's been an ordeal,' he said. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.