Stuart McEwan and Beau Borchers, both 19, were rushed to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning after they suffered stab wounds in an incident at the Lydiard Street North taxi rank.

Mr McEwan was released from hospital with 12 stitches in his neck on Sunday and Mr Borchers was yesterday still recovering in The Royal Melbourne Hospital after undergoing back surgery.

Both said they were regulars on the Ballarat nightlife scene and would not be deterred from venturing out again.

“I’ve been out every single weekend for a few months and have never been in any sort of trouble. I’ve hardly even seen any trouble,” Mr McEwan said.

“It was a one-off thing. I usually feel pretty safe, especially in the middle of town. Melbourne can get pretty scary, but normally Ballarat is fine.”

Speaking from hospital yesterday, Mr Borchers said he considered himself lucky to be alive.

The stab wounds narrowly avoided his liver and kidneys and he had to get blood drained from his lungs.

He said it would be a while before he ventured out at night in Ballarat again, but stressed the incident would not deter him from the city’s nightlife.

“You can’t let one incident stop you from doing what you like doing on weekends,” Mr Borchers said.

“I’ve never seen anything like this happen in Ballarat. There was definitely shock at the time, it’s not something you ever expect to happen.”

Both men expressed their gratitude towards the emergency services for their prompt reaction.

Police quickly arrested the alleged offender and ambulance services were on scene quickly to transport the injured pair to hospital.

The accused, Kyle Auchettl, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he faces charges, including affray and two counts of intentionally causing serious injury.

The 25-year-old Burnside man is due back in court on March 28 for committal mention.

Magistrate Peter Couzens extended his bail, which included the condition not to go within 200 metres of the Ballarat CBD or any licensed premises in the Ballarat area.