Campbell River father recovering from stab wounds after what family says was a random attack
Colin Dube-Wheat is recovering from a terrifying ordeal. The 21-year-old Campbell River father was stabbed in the heart and lung.
The attack happened in the early hours of July 14 in downtown Campbell River.
His cousin, Jen Fyfe, says Dube-Wheat was walking home from a party. He heard cries for help, saw someone seemingly overdosing, and went to help -- and that’s when he was viciously stabbed by a stranger.
“My family was just stabbed going to help somebody, so it is a lot to process,” said Fyfe Monday.
The Good Samaritan was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital – where he had life-saving open-heart surgery. This weekend he returned home to begin what’s expected to be a slow recovery.
“We’re really grateful for the interventions that everybody did to save his life because it could have gone a lot worse,” said Fyfe.
It’s been a year full of tragedy for Dube-Wheat. His younger brother died, and his family's dog was killed in a house fire.
“It’s been really hard,” Fyfe told CTV News Monday. “You know, you don’t want to see young people struggle.”
Dube-Wheat is engaged. He and his fiancé have a two-year-old daughter. Fyfe has set up a GoFundMe page to support the young family -- because her cousin won’t be able to work for several months and his fiancé will have to take time off work to care for their child.
No arrests have been made in the case. Campbell River RCMP say its major crimes unit is investigating the attack. It says the public isn’t in danger. That’s not a perspective shared, however, by Fyfe, who says the stabbing represents a bigger problem -- escalating violent crime.
“Like that person's out there and they randomly stabbed somebody -- like we gotta talk about this,” said Fyfe. “I am totally alarmed -- I don’t feel like downtown Campbell River is a safe place to be.”
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the police.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.