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Shaynna Blaze says she could have died after a stranger beat and gagged her while walking her dog, as The Block star reveals the one thing she thinks saved her.
Shaynna Blaze has opened up about an ordeal in which she was punched in the face in an unprovoked assault while walking her dog.
The Block star had been walking his dog in Melbourne when he was hit in the head, punched in the face and gagged during a terrifying attack carried out by Mark Christopher Surmon.
“I was so lucky to be on the grass because I took a king stroke and if I wasn’t on the grass I might not be talking to you today,” he told the herald sun.
Shaynna Blaze says she may have died after a man punched her in an ‘unprovoked’ assault while walking her dog
“It was an unprovoked attack and it was very violent, and that’s the truth of the matter, it wasn’t just someone coming in and pulling a little punch, it was violent.”
Victoria’s Country Court heard earlier this year that Blaze was walking her border collie Phoenix when she was attacked from behind, causing her to fall face down on her chin.
The high-profile interior designer screamed when Surmon “attempted to calm her down by putting his hand around her face and mouth,” according to court documents.
“I was so lucky to be on grass because I was king and if I wasn’t on grass I might not be talking to you today,” he told the Herald Sun.
Lead detective John Connor described Surmon’s actions as “unacceptable”, telling the court that Blaze had “no chance to run” or escape, the Herald Sun reported.
Blaze doesn’t know Surmon, who was innocently going about her day when she was brutally attacked.
“He put pressure on her shoulders to keep her down while this was happening,” Det Connor told the court.
‘The victim was walking her dog at the time of the assault. Community members should have the right to feel safe while doing this.”
Victoria rural court heard earlier this year that Blaze was walking her border collie Phoenix when she was attacked from behind, causing her to fall face down on her chin.
Blaze testified in court and provided two victim impact statements detailing the ongoing effects the attack had on her.
The judge recognized the ‘significant and prolonged impact on the victim’ as Surmon was found guilty of unlawful assault and sentenced to 100 days in jail in April.
He was later released on bail after he immediately appealed the sentence.
Surmon’s appeal was dismissed in August and he must serve the full 100-day sentence.
He was also sentenced to a community correction order with drug and mental health treatment conditions and must attend an offender behavior program.
His lawyers argued in court that Surmon had schizophrenia and that his condition played a role in the attack.
The high-profile interior designer screamed as Mark Christopher Surmon “attempted to calm her down by putting his hand around her face and mouth,” according to court documents.