A 43-year-old man is undergoing emergency surgery following a stabbing on Brisbane's northside this morning.
Police have alleged the man was sitting on the second-storey balcony of a home in Grange when he was stabbed in the chest by a 44-year-old woman.
Superintendent Andrew Massingham alleged the woman left the man on the balcony and locked the door before setting fire to a number of items in the home and barricading herself in the bathroom.
"It was to a number of books, clothing items and curtains inside the residence, certainly if left unattended the house would have been well involved," he said.
"You may say it was rudimentary in its attempt."
Fire alarms were triggered causing two children in the home to wake and become distressed.
At 5:20am a jogger passed the house and heard the man in distress on the balcony.
Police say the jogger used a ladder to rescue the man with the help of neighbours, before locating the two children in the home.
"The first thoughts of those neighbours and the jogger were to try and remove him as quickly as possible from that balcony and save his life," Superintendent Massingham said.
"Their next thoughts turned to the children who they could hear inside.
"Thankfully they were able to release them without injury on the bottom level at the front door.
"The door was locked, I believe the children were able to assist those attending with unlocking the front door.
"Police forced entry to that area and a short time later that lady was taken into custody."
Police said the man and woman were not known to them previously.
Woman in police custody in hospital
Police said the woman was uninjured except for some smoke inhalation.
"She's been conveyed to the Prince Charles Hospital where she is currently in police custody receiving some treatment," Superintendent Massingham said.
"We are expecting that we will make an attempt to interview her later this morning in relation to the events here this morning.
"Our early advice in relation to the 43-year-old man was that his life was in significant danger, paramedics worked tirelessly on him."
Detectives have established a crime scene at the house.
"The children have now been removed and are in the hands of specialist police and counsellors," Superintendent Massingham said.
