Website of the YearThe husband of Lucy Knight, the woman seriously hurt after intervening in an attempted bag snatch, says the response from the public has been mind-boggling.
Peter Thomas told Campbell Live he wished the events of Tuesday had never happened.
"We'd just like to go back in time before Tuesday. But we are blessed in this country and across the seas, and I'm just blown away by the support and whether it's messages or flowers from strangers or donations, it has been mind-boggling."
Mr Thomas said his 43-year-old wife, a mother of six, was making progress in hospital, but had suffered a huge shock to her body.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME."She's just taking it one day at a time, she is heavily sedated but positive signs are that she has been talking with us a bit today on and off."
"At the moment we are just with her, holding her, whispering things to her and starting to tell her about the support out there."
He said his family were "humbled" and "overwhelmed" by the support of not only friends and family but the wider community.
A Give a Little fundraising page established for the family this week has now raised more than $200,000.
"We feel very loved ... We are very grateful, and having that support will allow us to focus on Lucy and get her well."
The fundraising website had its busiest day since it was launched this week as people raced to donate money to Ms Knight, who was allegedly assaulted as she tried to stop a youth stealing an Asian woman's handbag at Countdown Northcote.
It is understood the Asian community, particularly Chinese people here and overseas, had rallied to support the cause and set a fundraising goal of $150,000, which was easily passed on Thursday.
Donations of food, petrol vouchers and other grocery items were also being offered to the family. Local businesses were offering to deliver food and supplies to the family, and the Northcote school the couple's youngest children attend, St Mary's, was helping with donations.