Joel Collins was allegedly stabbed in a resort in the city of Albufeira in the Algarve on July 4 while walking home from a night out. The 35-year-old father of four is in an induced coma, after suffering lacerations to the pancreas, lungs, intestines, and stomach.
He was found unconscious on the street and someone took him to the hospital in Faro. The victim has undergone six surgeries already and is in intensive care. His family is at his side.
ITV News reports that the victim has limited memory of what happened. However, the hospital believes he was robbed as he did not have his personal belongings with him.
Joel only remembers getting separated from his friends on a night out and using his phone to find the way back to his hotel, according to his sister Heidi Collins.
His last memory was of getting separated from his group and getting his phone out to use Google Maps to find a route back to his hotel.
Joel’s mum told BBC Wales, “It is the most horrendous experience of my life but what his sister, his partner, and I are going through is nothing compared to what Joel is so that makes me stronger.”
A friend of Joel’s has set up a crowdfunding page for the victim’s family that has raised over £8,000 so far.
Heidi also told ITV News that “people need to be extra vigilant when they are in the resort”. She said “the police aren’t doing anything about it” and that “these crimes are going on and nobody is aware of it.”