<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man who almost lost his hand during a violent attack outside a Melbourne shopping centre says his life will never be the same again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Saurabh Anand has been discharged from hospital but may never be able to use his hand properly again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My hand and my arm was literally hanging by a thread," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israeli-gaza-hamas-war-military-to-pause-fighting-gaza-areas-concerns-over-hunger-surge/40a5b7bf-a40b-41f7-a618-b83c14d3ed4c"><strong><span>Israel to pause fighting in three Gaza areas as concerns over hunger surge</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was attacked by a gang armed with a machete and thought he would die.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There was a lot of blood around me. My clothes were completely drenched of blood," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 33-year-old had just left an Altona Meadows pharmacy when he was approached by the group of teenage boys.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-man-almost-lost-hand-machete-knife-crime/4cea65d2-7de9-47f8-97e0-bf70a1e61e41" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He says they attacked him when he refused to hand over valuables.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So he pulled out a machete, he went for my throat and out of instinct the left arm came in front of my face to save myself," Anand said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anand says they hacked at his arm multiple times before snatching his mobile phone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And to be honest, this hand was completely limping so I tried to support it with my other hand, hoping that it doesn't fall out because I knew the moment my hand drops off there is no hope for it to be restored," Anand said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-american-airlines-plane-denver-passengers-evacuated-from-plane/14167241-7018-410f-afd5-a0898f6b3ef6"><strong><span>Passengers evacuated from plane onto runway after landing gear issue</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The customer service agent was left bleeding and in pain on the footpath until someone came to his aid.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He's spent the last week at hospital in and out of surgery.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's no information on how much this would work, if my hand is gonna ever work or if there would be any functionality," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Four teenagers have been charged over the daylight attack including a 14-year-old who is alleged to have been involved in a similar knife incident in June.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A fifth boy is expected to be charged on summons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You may see me physically present in my home or at the hospital. Mentally I'm still there being attacked every night."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A fundraiser has been started to support Anand who is already calling on the state government to do more.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't want to be someone who is just being attacked and forgotten," he said.</span></div></div>