Footage emerges of chef being stabbed while walking to work in Melbourne’s CBD

Shocking footage has emerged of the moment a chef was stabbed — allegedly by a woman who was on bail — while walking to work in Melbourne’s CBD.

The CCTV video shows Wan Lai, 36, walking along Little Bourke St in Melbourne’s CBD on the way to work as a sushi chef about 7.40am on October 2.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Horrific moment chef stabbed in Melbourne.

It shows a woman running up to Lai from behind.

Lai has previously told 7NEWS.com.au she recalls feeling someone touch her lower back and turned to see a woman with dishevelled hair muttering words she did not understand.

The woman is then seen in the video to brandish a knife and stab Lai on the right side of her chest before running off.

Passers-by rushed to help Lai stop the bleeding before she was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Doctors said Lai suffered a hemopneumothorax — a condition where blood and air build up around the lung, making it difficult to breathe.

A 32-year-old woman from Melbourne was later arrested, and a knife seized after an extensive search of the area, police told 7NEWS.com.au.

She was charged with two counts of intentionally causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail. She appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 3 and was remanded in custody until her next appearance.

The alleged attack on Lai, who moved to Australia from Taiwan seven years ago, has left her and her family and local community on high alert.

“She turned to her right this time and there was someone there — but what if she turned to her left? It could have been her heart,” Lai’s sister, Ivana Lai, told 7NEWS.com.au.

Ivana said Lai has been unable to work because of her injury and had also moved to a new home because she no longer felt safe.

“She doesn’t dare to go out anymore, she’s always on guard,” Ivana said.

“She can’t stand people walking behind her and keeps looking around nervously.”

Community shaken

The random attack has sparked concern among Lai’s neighbours.

The manager of the building where Lai had lived said its security services had increased patrols to “ensure our community remains safe”.

“Please consider alternate routes and be aware of your surroundings,” the building manager said, adding police had also increased patrols in the area.