The mother of a wheelchair-bound man viciously attacked in Australia says her son's surgery went well.
Heath Proden was beaten in an elevator Tuesday evening. The attack left him with skull injuries, swelling on his brain and a number of cuts.
Shellan Proden says she spoke to him after Wednesday's surgery and he appears to be in good spirits and sends his best to everyone back in Manitoba.
The 35-year old victim was headed to his girlfriend's place after attending a concert in Sydney by his friends' band Doc Walker when he was attacked at a train station.
Proden, who lives near Winnipeg Beach, says she's devastated and outraged at what happened.
But she said her son has always been a trusting person. She believes the assault will not change her son's positive attitude and Shellan takes comfort in that and hopes he recovers quickly.
"He will be the same trusting person he's always been...I know he'll bounce back," she says.
Someone has already come forward to fly her to see her son in hospital.
The assault on Heath was caught on security video which showed attackers punching his face and knocking him to the ground before stomping on him and hitting him in the head with a metal bar from his wheelchair.
A railway employee called police.
His girlfriend, Kristin Sharrock, told reporters the attack was "cowardly" and said the suspects need to be taken off the streets.
"He is a wonderful, kind, generous strong individual who's been through a lot in his life and he doesn't deserve what's happened to him," Sharrock told reporters.
Heath has been in a wheelchair after breaking his back in a snowmobile accident about 10 years ago.
Officers have charged a 15-year-old suspect and a 16-year-old suspect in connection with the assault.
Based on early reports, officials say the attack appears unprovoked.
- with a report from CTV's Eleanor Coopsammy
