Colin Dube-Wheat is now recovering at home in Campbell River after emergency surgery was needed to save his life.
On July 14, the 21-year-old was stabbed twice, including in the heart and lung.
“Colin was downtown walking home in the really early morning hours and someone called to him that they needed help that someone was having an overdose,” said Jen Fyfe, whose family raised Dube-Wheat from a young age.
“(He) walked up to someone on the ground he was stabbed in the chest twice.”
Dube-Wheat suffered serious wounds to his heart and a lung and was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital for life-saving surgery.
Fyfe says he had walked a friend home at 4:30 a.m. before the attack.
“We’re so grateful that he’s here, so it was a really bad thing, but it came with a good outcome because he’ll make it,” she said.
Questions remain about what happened, and police say they are still looking for a suspect.
“The Campbell River RCMP Major Crime Unit responded to a report of a stabbing that occurred at approximately 4:30 in the morning,” said Campbell River RCMP Const. Maury Tyre.
“One person was taken to hospital from that event. At this point in time, we do not believe there is a danger to the public at large in Campbell River and the investigation is ongoing.”
Now Fyfe’s questioning the safety of downtown Campbell River.
“This is happening and we’re all shook up, and I’m trying really hard to focus on Colin, but at the same time, I feel like our community needs the support to be able to deal with people that are being violent towards other people,” she said.
Dube-Wheat is the father of a two-year-old girl and works at a fish processing plant. He is now recovering at home.
The community has already donated more than $16,000 to an online fundraiser.
Dean Stoltz
