A student nurse who sprang into action to help a young delivery worker after he was stabbed in a random attack in Vancouver says she thinks those workers may need to get more safety training.
A young Skip the Dishes worker was locking up his bike in Chinatown Sunday night when someone he apparently didn’t know attacked him from behind, stabbing him multiple times.
Nursing student Karla McCallum and other witnesses didn’t hesitate to jump in and help.
“He was bleeding profusely, it was really bad,” McCallum told CTV News Vancouver, adding that a nearby salon was supplying them with towels. “Everything was so well coordinated… the gentleman holding the neck wound had to take a break, I took over.”
Police said the 22-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries to his neck and chest but is expected to survive.
McCallum said it appears the victim was on the phone with the customer, still trying to arrange the delivery.
“You’re fighting for your life and you’re still trying to deliver a meal,” he said, adding that he’s never seen anyone be so selfless.
McCallum said she took the phone from the victim and spoke to the customer. He said he wants Skip the Dishes to know “how dedicated this guy was.”
McCallum also expressed concern that delivery workers may not receive adequate safety training.
“We as health workers are trained how to de-escalate violence,” she said, adding that she was “extremely happy that the victim is alive and recovering.”
In a statement to CTV News Vancouver, Skip the Dishes said it “takes safety issues extremely seriously and any action within our capabilities will always be taken.”
“Skip is committed to maintaining a safe ecosystem for all stakeholders, including couriers, customers and restaurant partners,” the company said in a statement.
Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department said “a lot of credit” goes to the public in this case, for helping the victim and providing critical information to investigators.
“Right now, we’re not motivated. It seems to be random. It seems unprovoked,” he said.
“Young man who just came to Canada in the spring, he came from Afghanistan, he was a refugee trying to get a better life and here he is doing his job trying to get by, and he was attacked.”
Police said people in the area at the time provided key information that led to the arrest of a 43-year-old suspect in Crab Park shortly after the attack.
Dennis Amanand Prasad was charged with aggravated assault.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Maria Weisgarber
