A Saskatoon man stabbed in an apparent random attack at a hospital has died
A man stabbed in an apparent random attack at a Saskatoon hospital has died, according to a close friend.
Randy Beauchesne died after he was removed from life support on Saturday, Chris Sicotte told CTV News.
Beauchesne, 55, was stabbed in the head inside Royal University Hospital on June 13 — allegedly by a man he didn't know.
"We were encouraged initially when he was awake and trying to communicate, and then everything kind of took a turn for the worse about a week and a half or so ago," Sicotte said.
"A loving father, devoted grandfather, small business owner, well known within the group of people we associated with— it's just tragic and senseless."
Sicotte said Beauchesne was a two-time cancer survivor who was always ready to lend a hand.
"A lot of times people throw the phrase 'shirt off your back kind of person,' but that's really what he was. He was one of those guys, if he could help you out in any way possible, he would be there," Sicotte said
He was also an avid martial artist who Sicotte said was "tough as nails and strong as an ox."
Beauchesne was stabbed with a screwdriver, according to his daughter Danya.
She previously told CTV News the screwdriver used by Randy's attacker penetrated his skull and entered the frontal lobe of his brain.
Kevin Witchekan, 39, was arrested at the hospital following the attack and charged with attempted murder.
On Tuesday, Saskatoon Police Service said new charges are pending.
Randy Beauchesne sustained a serious brain injury when he was stabbed at a Saskatoon hospital, according to his family. (Courtesy Dayna Beauchesne)
"Just to find out that it was you know, a senseless random attack — there may have been a case of mistaken identity — but still you stab somebody in the head like that? It's just brutal. It's vicious," Sicotte said.
In June, Danya said the attack happened while Randy was paying for parking for a family friend they happened to bump into at the hospital.
"He was just trying to do something nice for someone ... and then he has that happen to him," she said.
--With files from Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.