A 26-year-old man was rushed to Lions Gate Hospital after receiving a severe cut on his arm.
The North Vancouver RCMP is seeking public assistance after a 26-year-old man was attacked by teenagers with machetes near the North Vancouver SeaBus entrance on Wednesday evening (June 1).
Police rushed to the scene after receiving multiple 911 calls around 9:15 p.m. from witnesses who saw how the machete attack took place.
Officers arrived and found passersby giving first aid to the man, who had suffered what police described as a “serious arm wound.”
Police immediately offered emergency first aid, which included the use of a police tourniquet to stop the bleeding, and called for paramedics, the sergeant said. Peter DeVries, spokesman for the RCMP in North Vancouver.
The man was rushed to hospital in serious condition.
“There was a major injury that required surgery,” DeVries said.
Police learned from witnesses that there had been an altercation between the victim and a group of four or five youths who had fled the scene before police arrived, DeVries said.
Some time later, North Vancouver RCMP officers patrolling the Phibbs Exchange bus loop on Main Street and Hwy 1 located two teenagers who matched the descriptions provided by witnesses: a 17-year-old boy and a 13 year old boy. They were both found in possession of machetes, DeVries said, and were arrested for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Since then, these teenagers have been released into the custody of their guardians, on the condition that they have no weapons and do not approach Lonsdale Quay.
Police said that although the victim and the teenagers did not know each other, the attack did not appear to be random.
DeVries said they believe there were two or three more young people involved in the altercation they would like to identify.
“We believe there are people who have video footage on their cell phones,” he said. Police ask anyone with video footage of the incident to call police at 604-985-1311.
They also encourage anyone with video surveillance from the East Esplanade area between Lonsdale Avenue and St. Georges Avenue, between 9pm and 9:45 am on June 1, to check for pictures.
DeVries described the attack as alarming. “There’s absolutely no reason for anyone to walk north of Vancouver with a machete,” he said.
Police have not disclosed whether the detained teenagers are from the north coast.
No charges have been filed yet. Police said the investigation is ongoing.