2 people attacked in tent without provocation by men with baseball bats
'I was scared for my life, I thought I was going to die'
Two people living in a tent in Nanaimo, B.C., were left with serious injuries after being attacked by a couple of men with baseball bats over the weekend.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the 39-year-old woman and 51-year-old man were attacked in the woman's tent at about 1 p.m. on Saturday near Divers Lake, off Labieux Road.
"I was scared for my life, I thought I was going to die," said Fred, whose last name is being withheld.
"I'm mostly deaf so I didn't hear them coming up behind me ... I started turning my head and that's when I got whacked."
He and the woman were taken to hospital with injuries from blunt force trauma, police confirmed.
Fred was released Monday with a broken arm and stitches to his head and leg.
"The only thing I remember hearing anyone say was 'get out of town, if I see you again, I'll kill you,'" he said.
Fred says he's homeless and collects bottles and doesn't know why he was attacked.
Police also described the attack as unprovoked with no clear motive.
"At this point, it would only be speculation to say that it's attributed to the fact that they were staying in a tent," said spokesperson Const. Gary O'Brien.
"It's troubling, certainly, anytime someone is assaulted with a weapon."
Police are still investigating.
"We're looking for any witnesses in the area," he said. "We have nothing at this point other than some social media information and the statement from the two victims."
Both suspects are described as heavyset, Caucasian males between 25 and 35 years old. One has dark hair with a goatee and the other has a dark beard and was wearing a black bandana over the lower half of his face.
They drove off in an orange newer-looking car.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.
With files from Chek News