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It was a random act of alleged violence that shocked South Australia.
An Adelaide mum was allegedly murdered in her office at the hands of a killer just released from psychiatric care.
In that moment of pure terror, Susan Scardigno risked it all to try to save her colleague and friend, suffering serious stab wounds in the process.
READ MORE: Survivor of horror Adelaide real estate stabbing speaks out
Now, in her first interview, she's told 9News about her terrifying ordeal and her courageous campaign to ensure it never happens again.
Scardingo survived the unthinkable, but now lives with the unbearable.
"Being the one that's left just carries so much grief and guilt and pain," she said
It was five days before Christmas when Scardingo and her colleague, 38-year-old Julie Seed, were alone in their real estate office when a man walked in armed with a knife and hammer.
"This was a very calm, calculated… he had intent," she said.
Police allege he stabbed Seed repeatedly.
Scardigno risked her life to save her friend when police allege he turned on her too.
READ MORE: Adelaide woman identified as victim of alleged stabbing murder
"I did everything I could at the time to keep her safe and in the aftermath I thought she was and she wasn't," she said.
Seed died and Scardigno was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Almost a month on, her wounds are healing but her trauma runs deep
Shaun Michaels Dunk has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
He'd been released from psychiatric care just two days before the attack.
"Every threat to life is a threat to life and we're not taking it seriously enough," Scardigno said.
She's now vowing to fight for change in honour of her friend.
She will meet South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas in the coming days to discuss what must change so something like this can never happen again.
"It can't be for absolutely nothing. We need to take that power back for her," she said.
