Saskatoon man left with brain injury after random stabbing at hospital, family says
A 55-year-old man was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver at a Saskatoon hospital, according to his daughter.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 13 at Royal University Hospital.
According to police, the 39-year-old alleged attacker was taken into custody by hospital security and subsequently arrested by police. Kevin Witchekan is charged with attempted murder in the attack.
Danya Beauchesne was seeking medical care at the hospital at the time. Her father, Randy Beauchesne, had accompanied her.
"It's just hard seeing everything taken away from him I don't want to see anyone else go through that," Beauchesne said.
She said Randy had left to pay for parking as a favour for an old friend they had bumped into at the hospital.
When he didn't come back, she began to worry. Then a nurse took her aside.
"They're like, your dad was just assaulted. We're admitting him into emergency, he's got a whole team of doctors looking after him," Danya said.
She said the screwdriver used by Randy's attacker had penetrated his skull and entered the frontal lobe of his brain.
"I love him so much, he's a fighter, he's a survivor," she said.
"He was just trying to do something nice for someone while already doing something nice for me and then he has that happen to him," she said.
On Monday — two weeks after the assault— Randy had his feeding tube removed, according to Danya.
She said she has barely been able to speak with her dad since the attack due to his injuries.
"I've had two days out of the 16 that I've been able to talk to him, he's usually under sedation or he's just too tired."
Danya said she's been told Randy may need up to two months in RUH before he can be transferred to City Hospital — where a long road to rehabilitation will still lie ahead.
Along with a family friend, Danya started a GoFundMe to raise money for her dad, a self-employed arborist who loves martial arts. She worries will never be able to work again.
"I don't know how comfortable he can live with the state that he's going to be for the rest of his life," she said while tearing up.
"I don't want him to have to worry about paying his bills or any of that stuff when he can barely remember what date it is."
Witchekan's next court date is scheduled for July 7.
--With files from Carla Shynkaruk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.