Sydney Man Breaks His Silence on Alleged B0iling-Water At-tack — The Shocking Detail He Revealed Is Hard to Imagine
A Sydney man has revealed he and his partner discussed separating shortly before he was allegedly beaten with a saucepan and scalded with boiling water at a ritzy French chateau.
Callum Forbes was expected to return to Sydney on Sunday after being treated in France for second-degree burns to his face, torso, neck and upper arms, as well as a burst eardrum and facial injuries.
Callum Forbes has revealed he and his partner discussed separating shortly before he was allegedly beaten with a saucepan and scalded with boiling water at a ritzy French chateau. The Daily Telegraph
His partner, Sydney banker David Cao, 37, has been charged with attempted murder over the alleged July 28 attack at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel in Nazelles-Négron.
Forbes, who spoke to The Daily Telegraph and supplied the masthead with a photo of his injuries, said the pair, who had been together for three-and-a-half years, had spoken about ending their relationship.
“We had a civil conversation earlier that day, I had raised the issue of separating but I thought we were good,” Forbes told The Daily Telegraph.
“There was no argument, but we both agreed it wasn’t working, we had been together for three and a half years.”
The couple had been travelling through Europe and had visited Barcelona and Bordeaux, with plans to attend World Pride in Amsterdam.
They had checked into the $500-a-night French chateau, had dinner and visited the spa before going to bed.
They had checked into the $500-a-night French chateau on July 28 and had dinner and visited the spa before going to bed. iStock
Forbes said he woke to blows to his head and initially thought he was having a nightmare.
“I felt these blows to the side of my head. I thought it was a nightmare and I thought ‘you’re going to die tonight’.
“I still thought I was in a nightmare until I looked down and saw blood everywhere on the floor – it was like a murder scene. I started screaming for help.”
French media previously reported Cao allegedly struck Forbes several times on the head with a saucepan and poured boiling water over his body.
Forbes also described locking himself in a bathroom after the alleged attack and fearing he would die before hotel staff arrived.
David Cao was most previously employed by ING. LinkedIn
Hotel staff and guests reportedly heard screams coming from the couple’s room before entering, while Cao had allegedly fled.
“It was horrific, my mum is with me at the hospital, I had to wait 36 hours to call her for help, because he had taken my phone and iPad and passport, I couldn’t contact anyone,” Forbes said.
Cao allegedly left the hotel in a rental car after the incident and travelled to Rouen before taking a train to Paris and then Lille in northern France.
Police arrested him at Lille train station on July 30, almost 500 kilometres from the hotel and close to the Belgian border.
Callum Forbes was allegedly attacked by his partner in a French hotel room. Supplied
French media has reported Cao faces charges including attempted murder, acts of torture and barbarity, kidnapping and theft. He remains in custody ahead of trial and has not addressed the allegations.
Cao had worked for several major Australian banks and joined ING as Head of Retail and Value Creation in May.
ING previously told nine.com.au he was no longer employed by the bank.
His LinkedIn profile also lists previous roles at Westpac, Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth Bank and Goldman Sachs.
Cao has also served on the board of LGBTQ+ organisation Rainbow Giving Australia Foundation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade previously confirmed it was assisting Forbes and attempting to contact Cao.
