City Beach attack: Harrowing update on Perth tradie Trae Black whose leg was severed in alleged attack

A young tradesman who lost his lower leg after he was allegedly violently attacked by a colleague remains in critical condition, a week after the horrific incident.

Matthew William Lawson, 25, is alleged to have chased Trae Black, 29, in a car, run him off the road and assaulted him on the West Coast Highway, in City Beach, Perth, on Monday morning.

The two reportedly got into a heated altercation at a construction site a few hundred yards away in the beachside suburb, after which a chase ensued, during which Mr Black’s leg was severed below the knee.

Mr Black is still fighting for his life in the intensive care unit of Royal Perth Hospital, seven days later, The Western Australian reported.

But he would not be alive today if witnesses had not come to his aid.

Trae’s father Troy Black paid tribute to those who saved his son’s life in an emotional statement two days after the alleged attack.

“Trae has the support of friends and family, for which we are very grateful,” said Mr Black.

While Trae still has a long road ahead of him, we know he will fight hard to overcome his injuries.

“We would like to thank the people on the scene who came to his aid and the emergency services. We understand that if they had not intervened, Trae would have died before he reached the hospital.

‘We would also like to thank the RPH staff for the excellent care they provided to Trae and for their support to our family.

“The past few days have been incredibly difficult for those of us who know Trae well. We are asking for space and privacy at this time so that we can focus on Trae and the difficult road ahead.”

Lawson has since admitted that he has been charged with attempted murder, after allegedly running over his colleague and then hitting Mr Black over the head with a claw hammer.

Lawson’s bizarre arrest was captured on video by shocked citizens.

Lawson is wearing only black shorts, which at first glance appears to be black. He is stopped by two uniformed police officers in a parking lot in City Beach.

The arrest came minutes after police were alerted to the horrific incident.

Chilling surveillance footage showed Lawson arriving at his workplace with a hammer minutes before the alleged attack.

Apparently his boss also tried to stop him before he went to City Beach.

Lawson has been charged with attempted murder and appeared in Perth District Court on Tuesday.

When presented with the charge by Judge Janelle Scutt, Lawson replied: “Yes, guilty,” The West Australian reported.

No application for bail was made and no facts about the alleged offence were read out.

He also rejected an offer from Magistrate Scutt to adjourn the trial so he could seek legal advice.

Lawson has been remanded in custody and will appear in the High Court on August 21.

Emergency services and bystanders rushed to Mr Black’s aid after the incident.

A retired war veteran was one of the first bystanders to come to Mr Black’s aid, who he said was “not doing well” after the incident.

“He asked for water and became very panicked,” said the Good Samaritan. told 9News.

‘I heard later that there was a man who had allegedly hit him in the face with a hammer and that he was also at the scene,’

Later I found [the victim’s] ‘He placed his amputated leg on the bank, put it in a bag and gave it to the emergency services.’

Superintendent Manus Walsh previously told reporters the alleged incident was caused by a “‘verbal altercation’ at a nearby construction site.

“The victim ran away and was (allegedly) pursued by another man in a silver Mazda,” Detective Chief Inspector Walsh told reporters.

‘It is possible that the victim was hit by the vehicle and the perpetrator then carried out a second attack using a hammer.’

Chief Walsh thanked the bystanders who came to his aid, including an off-duty orthopedic surgeon who used the straps of her purse as a makeshift tourniquet on him.

“We are very, very grateful to the doctor on duty,” he said.

“This was a shocking event for anyone to witness, whether trained police officers or civilians.”

Detective Chief Inspector Walsh added that it was likely that Mr Black would have died without the help of bystanders.