A 22-year-old man underwent five hours of surgery after suffering a serious leg wound in the alleged unprovoked Ballina machete attack near Woolworths on Sunday evening.
Emergency services were called to River Street at about 8pm after the passenger on an e-bike allegedly struck the man on the lower right leg with a machete following a brief discussion.
The two riders, believed to have been known to him, fled before paramedics rushed him to Lismore Base Hospital in a serious condition.
Two arrested over Ballina machete attack
Akeiam Dennis Cook, 25, and his aunt, Tahnee Lois Daley, 33, both of Ballina, were arrested when officers searched a Treelands Crescent home at about 1pm on Tuesday.
They were taken to Ballina Police Station and each charged with reckless wounding in company.
Cook is alleged to have been the passenger who produced the machete and struck the victim.
A family member of the victim exclusively told The Coast Report the wound was on the side of the man’s right leg, just below the knee, and measured about eight centimetres long and three centimetres deep.
The injury also caused a large blood clot that created pressure inside his leg, requiring surgeons to make a further incision to relieve it.
“It’s a massive wound,” the family member said.
“He’s doing well and being looked after by his family.”
The man remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Accused have lengthy criminal histories
Court records and Bail Division proceedings show Cook and Daley both have lengthy criminal histories.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Miller said Daley’s record included violent, domestic violence, drug and dishonesty offences, along with prison sentences, breaches of bail and court orders, and failures to appear.
Cook was convicted in December 2025 over a serious Byron Bay assault and placed on a two-year Community Correction Order, which remains in force until December 14, 2027.
Sunday’s alleged attack occurred while he was subject to the order.
Daley granted bail as Cook remains in custody
Defence lawyer Philip Crick represented both accused when their matters came before Judge L Robinson in Bail Division on Wednesday.
Cook did not appear and no bail application was made.
Sergeant Miller opposed Daley’s release, arguing she posed risks of failing to appear, committing a serious offence and endangering the community.
The prosecution alleged CCTV captured the incident and that the victim told police Daley said “stab him”, or words to that effect.
Mr Crick argued there was a question about whether Daley was part of a joint criminal enterprise.
Judge Robinson found Daley had an arguable defence concerning her alleged involvement and that strict conditions could manage the identified risks.
Daley was granted conditional bail requiring her to live at a specified address, observe a curfew, report to Lismore Police twice weekly and abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. She is prohibited from entering Ballina except for court and must not contact the victim or Cook.
Daley will appear at Ballina Local Court on September 3.
Cook was refused bail and will appear at Ballina Local Court on Thursday, August 27.
The charges against Cook and Daley are allegations and have not been proven in court.
The Coast Report first reported the machete attack as one of two knife incidents in Ballina within about six hours on Sunday.