Celebrity Dentist Shot Dead Following Vicious Random Attacks on Two Sydney Women
Two women have recounted harrowing experiences where they genuinely believed they were facing death during brutal, unprovoked assaults by a disgraced celebrity dentist, who was ultimately shot and killed by police officers responding to the violent incident. Chloe Paul and Christine Campeau were subjected to savage attacks by Dr Steven Lin, a 41-year-old Australian dentist with a notable public profile, who had participated in multiple TED talks, owned two dental surgeries, and was a regular feature on health podcasts.
The Terrifying Ordeal in Potts Point
The violent episode unfolded at approximately 10:50 PM on a Tuesday morning at the St Neot Avenue building complex in Potts Point, Sydney. Lin, armed with a knife, entered the residential complex and first encountered Christine Campeau in the laundry room. Without provocation, he stabbed her in the face and proceeded to beat her severely, leaving her with extensive injuries.
Lin then forced his way into Chloe Paul's apartment unit, where he demanded cash from the mother of three. He physically restrained her, beating and choking her during the assault. Both women were left with serious facial injuries, including broken noses, requiring immediate hospitalisation and subsequent surgical intervention.
"I Thought I Was Going to Die"
Christine Campeau described the moment of attack to Australian media outlet 9Now, revealing she feared for her life as Lin delivered what she estimated to be ten to twelve continuous blows. "He went to pretend to hand me the keys and that's when he just smashed my face so hard," Campeau recounted. "There was about maybe 10 to 12 blows, they were nonstop ... my forehead hit the wall and that's when I thought, I'm going to die."
Chloe Paul, a celebrity photographer with training in boxing, remembered Lin's hands around her neck during the choking. Drawing upon her combat training, she recalled her instructor's advice to "go for the balls" when unable to win a conventional fight. "But my coach has always said, 'If you can't win a boxing fight, you go for the balls!' So I did," Paul explained. "Whatever I did, he got off me."
Police Intervention and Fatal Shooting
When police arrived at the scene, they initially attempted to subdue Lin with a Taser, but this proved ineffective. As Lin lunged toward the responding officers, one officer was compelled to discharge their firearm, resulting in Lin's death. Chloe Paul described the moment of the gunshot as bringing "relief" as an eerie silence fell over the chaotic scene.
Both women have since been celebrated as "super mums" for their resilience. A week following the traumatic event, they shared a joint post on Instagram, declaring that Lin had "picked the two strongest women in this building." Campeau elaborated to A Current Affair, stating, "You know when people say, 'wrong time, wrong place'? I don't believe [that]. We were chosen. He's picked the two strongest women in this building just so he'll never, ever hurt any other woman again."
Downward Spiral of a Public Figure
Dr Steven Lin's death marked the culmination of a significant personal and professional decline. Despite maintaining a substantial social media following, owning a multi-million dollar home valued at approximately AUD$5 million (£2.6 million), and having a large family with six children, Lin faced serious legal troubles in the year preceding his death.
He appeared in court on eight separate occasions, facing allegations including stalking, choking, and assault, while reportedly struggling with methamphetamine addiction. This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of substance abuse and mental health crises, even among those perceived as successful public figures.
