{
  "id": 15852161,
  "title": "Helen Haines loses second leg after attack outside office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/helen-haines-loses-second-leg-after-attack-outside-office",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T06:20:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Age",
    "slug": "the-age",
    "url": "https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/helen-haines-loses-second-leg-after-attack-outside-office-20261021-p617ij.html?ref=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Federal MP for Indi Helen Haines has had both legs amputated following an incident on Monday where she was hit by a car outside her Wangaratta office. The Guardian Australia reports that while surgeons attempted to save one leg, both were eventually amputated due to her injuries. Haines, 65, remains in stable condition, and her husband, Phil Haines, stated that her heart and mind are in good shape.\n\nPolice allege the attack was targeted and have charged 43-year-old Brendan Nugent with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. According to The Guardian, the AFP and Victoria police stated they had no prior intelligence that Nugent would allegedly drive a Toyota LandCruiser into the independent MP. Nugent appeared in Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday.\n\nGovernor-General Sam Mostyn joined Phil Haines at the Alfred hospital to offer support, stating the attack must be a moment to pause and choose to be better, according to The Age. The Sydney Morning Herald noted that first responders who aided the MP shared that she spoke generously to them while they worked to save her.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "No bail for alleged Helen Haines attacker as police chief warns of Australia’s ‘febrile’ political environment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/no-bail-for-alleged-helen-haines-attacker-as-police-chief-warns-of",
        "published": "2026-10-21T02:32:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Australia warns against early specialisation for young athletes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/australia-warns-against-early-specialisation-for-young-athletes",
        "published": "2026-10-21T03:40:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Helen Haines’ husband confirms MP has had second leg amputated",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/helen-haines-husband-confirms-mp-has-had-second-leg-amputated",
        "published": "2026-10-21T07:26:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Helen Haines’ husband confirms MP has had second leg amputated",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/helen-haines-husband-confirms-mp-has-had-second-leg-amputated-15859495",
        "published": "2026-10-21T07:26:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}