A Sydney entrepreneur has detailed an alleged violent assault by his banker boyfriend in a French hotel, during which he claims he offered to marry his attacker in a desperate attempt to survive. Callum Forbes, 37, alleges that David Cao struck him on the head with a saucepan and poured boiling water over him at the Château de Perreux in central France on July 28.
Forbes recounted the hours leading up to the alleged incident to The Sydney Morning Herald, stating that Cao had taken his passport and injured him in Barcelona two days prior. As they traveled from Spain to France, Forbes said he informed Cao of his intention to end the relationship. During a four-hour drive to the hotel, Cao unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade Forbes from leaving.
Forbes claims he fell asleep around 10:30 p.m. and awoke to Cao allegedly attacking him. "I immediately ran to the door to try and get out, (but) he'd locked the door and taken the key out," Forbes told the Herald. "I was trying to open the door so much that the door handle broke off."
Forbes alleges that Cao continued to hit him with the saucepan and asked, "You don't love me, right?" He stated, "I honestly thought I was going to die." It was during this alleged assault that Forbes claims he offered to marry Cao.
Forbes said he used a towel to try to staunch the bleeding, but after getting out of the shower, the alleged assault resumed. Guests and hotel staff reportedly heard screams from the room before finding Forbes severely injured. Forbes stated he managed to escape by locking himself in the bathroom.
Cao was the subject of a 36-hour manhunt before being apprehended in Lille, France. He has been charged with attempted murder and is awaiting trial, which is scheduled to begin next year. According to French publication La Nouvelle République, Cao has denied intending to kill Forbes.
Forbes spent nearly three weeks recovering in a French hospital with his mother present before returning to Sydney. He has been attending medical appointments and has not yet returned to work, citing head scars, reduced hearing in one ear, and psychological trauma from the alleged attack. He expressed gratitude for the support from friends and family during his recovery.
Cao, a banker, previously worked in various roles at ING Australia, Westpac, Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth Bank, and Goldman Sachs. His LinkedIn profile highlighted professional achievements, including sharing photos with figures like former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce. Forbes and Cao were in France as part of a summer trip across Europe when the alleged attack occurred. They were staying at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel in central France. 
