A BRITISH backpacker was last night recovering from a punctured lung after she was stabbed during an alleged sexual­ assault at an inner-city boarding house.

The accused man, a 27-year-old Mexican national, remained under police guard in St Vincent’s Hospital last night.

Police allege a man forced his way into the woman’s room at the Redfern boarding house on Monday afternoon and tried to sexually assault her.

media_camera The victim is a British national who has been in the country for just four weeks.

Police have been told that when the 23-year-old woman resisted, the attacker left her room but returned with a knife.

The woman was stabbed several times during a struggle but broke free, grabbed a knife and stabbed her attacker in the chest before he ran off.

Police arrested the 27-year-old man about 600m away.

The woman was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where she was expected to undergo surgery for stab wounds to her chest and neck.

media_camera Officers tape off the area. Picture: Bill Hearne

George Chahwan, who owns a business adjacent to the boarding house, said the woman’s screams for help were horrific. “You know something is wrong when you hear screams like that,” he said.

It is believed the woman and her alleged attacker know each other and are friends on Facebook.

Detective Inspector Despa Fitzgerald praised the bravery of the victim.

“It’s a terrible ordeal for someone to have to try to resist and arm themselves to actually get free from this person, it’s horrific for anyone to go through,” Insp Fitzgerald said.

“Obviously her survival instincts kicked in and she was able to remove herself from the situation.”

media_camera Police establish crime scene inside the house in Redfern. Picture: Bill Hearne

media_camera A man who is believed to have helped the woman returned to the house. Picture: Adam Taylor

media_camera An officer at the house. Picture: Bill Hearne media_camera Officers look for fingerprints. Picture: Bill Hearne

Originally published as Woman stabbed in sex attack