Residents saw homeless woman, Monika Chetty, with 'horrific' burns days before authorities called
ABC
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A homeless woman who sustained chemical burns to 80 per cent of her body sought help days before authorities were called to her assistance.
Monika Chetty, 39, whose burns have been described by police as "black in nature and unmistakable", walked through Sydney suburbs for up to a week after being doused with chemicals.
Residents of a street in West Hoxton had reported seeing Ms Chetty outside their properties for several days, before she was found by police responding to cries in bushland near Ferraro Crescent on Friday night.
Ms Chetty has told police she was approached by a man who doused her with a chemical about a week ago in a Liverpool park.
She spent a second night in Concord Hospital last night where she is being treated for burns so severe that police said she could not be physically identified.
Residents say Ms Chetty had been seen sitting in a green car - which police believe doubled as her home - in the days before she was taken to hospital.
The car has since disappeared.
Gavin O'Brien says he first saw Ms Chetty outside his house on Boxing Day, but she resisted his offer of help.
"I kind of feel bad I didn't call an ambulance or something on Boxing Day," he said.
Police say Ms Chetty sought assistance from residents on New Year's Eve and was given some food and water.
Giola Motti, who phoned police on Friday, says she was worried for several days after seeing Ms Chetty in the car near her home.
"She was just sitting in her car in a daze, like there was nothing she was looking at. There was a blank look," she said.
"(It) just worried me, the state that she was in. The way she walked, how slumped she was, depressed."
Ms Motti says she decided to call police after seeing Ms Chetty dragging a bag through the nearby bushland.
Victim unable to provide information on attacker
Detective Superintendent James Johnson says Ms Chetty is suffering from burns that are "black in nature and unmistakable" and is calling on witnesses to come forward.
"I don't believe this woman could have survived for the last week without having some assistance from members of the public," he said.
"We do know that on New Year's Eve she did seek assistance from residents and was given some food and water.
"I am astounded that anyone could survive this length of time with the horrific injuries that she has."
"This is the most unusual thing I have seen in my 41 years in the police."
Detective Superintendent Johnson says Ms Chetty has been unable to provide any information to police about her attacker.
Police say Ms Chetty has been estranged from her husband and children for several years.
Her husband spoke to police last night, though he is not considered a suspect in the attack.
Police urge anybody with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
