ORLANDO, Fla. – In a heart-wrenching incident at an Orlando office building on Monday night, a group therapy session turned tragic when a patient was stabbed ten times in a brave attempt to shield his counselor from a fatal attack.

The counselor, Rebecca White, succumbed to her injuries while being transported to the hospital. The assailant, identified as Michael Smith, is a registered sex offender with a violent past, according to reports from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

During the therapy session, Smith forced his way into the office, prompting the unnamed patient to heroically intervene. His efforts, though courageous, resulted in severe injuries as he tried to prevent further violence.

“He went to call the cops and was told to drop the phone. When he didn’t comply, that’s when the attacker began cutting him,” recounted Aaron, the father of the injured patient. He requested that his last name remain undisclosed to protect his son’s privacy.

Aaron detailed his son’s valiant attempt to restrain Smith. “He threw both himself and the attacker to the ground in an effort to stop him. But Smith retaliated, stabbing him repeatedly in the legs and arms,” Aaron shared.

“He threw himself and the guy to the ground. And he came up stabbing away. Legs… arms…” Aaron said.

The patient tried to help White escape the building, but Smith continued the attack.

“He stabbed and threw my son down the stairwell, or he slipped and fell,” Aaron said.

While the patient lay injured at the bottom of the stairs, Smith carried out what sheriff’s officials described as a “tragic murder,” fatally stabbing White.

The surviving patient, released from the hospital Wednesday, is struggling with survivor’s guilt, his father said.

“He thinks if he had turned around and gone back up the stairs…” Aaron said, describing his son’s emotional state. “He’s feeling bad because he feels like if he went back in, he might have been able to save Rebecca.”

Aaron said he’s trying to help his son cope with those feelings.

“I told him when he’s crying, don’t do that. Don’t start beating yourself up. Because it could have gone the other way. And you’d be dead,” he said.

The family has established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the patient’s hospital bills.