Dale Ewins, 35, who came as the Joker, was seriously injured after being shot in the stomach after officers mistook his replica gun for the real thing.

The woman, Zita Sukys, 37, who was dressed as Harley Quinn, was shot in the leg.

Forty armed officers raided the Saints and Sinners Ball - a “no holds barred extravaganza of adult fun”.

But the owner of Inflation, Martha Tsamis, defended the pair, taking to social media to say the event had been hosted at the Australian nightclub without incident for two decades.

She added: “Participants are generally older adults who come in costume and engage with each other in adult fantasies.

The man is alleged to have drawn his fake gun on officers, though they were told be security staff that it was not real.

However, police said Mr Ewins did no drop the gun.

Superintendent Lisa Hardeman said: “As a response police then fired a number of shots and a male and female were injured.”

“When a firearm is pointed at you in these circumstances, police are not sure at that stage whether it is real or an imitation.”