AN AUSTRALIAN man has been charged over an assault with a hammer in Melbourne which has left two Irish men with life-threatening injuries.
The Irish men, who have not been named, are reported to be backpackers aged in their 30s. They were allegedly attacked in the house in which they were living.
Luke James Wentholt (31) appeared before Melbourne magistrates court yesterday charged on two counts of intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury.
He was remanded in custody until October 8th.
The two men suffered their injuries in a boarding house at St Kilda East, which is six kilometres from Melbourne city centre, at about 1am on Sunday.
They were taken to a hospital in the nearby suburb of Prahran.
Mr Wentholt was arrested at the same hospital after seeking treatment for injuries at about 4.30am on Sunday.
Glen Jackson of Victoria Police said the victims were both in a “serious condition at the Alfred hospital, with life-threatening injuries”.
A spokeswoman at the hospital told The Irish Times last night that the men were “both critical but stable”.
“That is the only information we can give out,” she said.
It is understood that the two men were hit over the head numerous times and suffered severe injuries.
Irish embassy officials in Australia are providing consular assistance to the men’s families.
