Father sickened by attack on wheelchair-bound son

The senseless and brutal attack on a man in a wheelchair, caught on video in Australia, is shocking people around the world Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in Manitoba, the family of the victim is struggling to come to grips with what happened.

Heath Proden, a 35-year-old man from Winnipeg Beach, was visiting his girlfriend in Australia when he was attacked by two teenagers at a train station. Helpless and alone, he suffered serious injuries in the assault.

"He had severe injuries to his head and scalp. His head was crushed in one area," says the victim’s father, John Proden.

The beating was caught on tape by surveillance cameras at the train station.

"He could have been beaten to death, I don't think it would have really mattered to those kids," said John at his home in Portage La Prairie.

"It's a cowardly, horrendous, horrific thing they've done. Let's get them off the street and stop it from happening to anyone else," said Kristin Sharrock, Heath's girlfriend in Australia.

Heath has been in Australia since November, visiting Sharrock. He grew up in Portage la Prairie and was friends with members of the local band Doc Walker. He was coming home from their concert when he was attacked.

Police have charged a 15 and 16-year-old in relation to the incident.

Meanwhile, Heath has undergone surgery to his skull and remains in stable condition.

"He's been through a lot in his life and he doesn't deserve what's happened again," said Sharrock.

10 years ago, Heath was confined to a wheelchair after a snowmobile accident near Winnipeg Beach. A month later, his stepfather was killed in a snowmobile crash. Then, just this past January, his best friend was killed while driving his snowmobile.

"It's pretty hard to take. He's had a lot of setbacks and when's enough, enough," said John of his son.

Heath now lives in Winnipeg beach, where friends and neighbours helped him out after his accident.

"He'd give us his money, we'd shop for him and give him his groceries," said Kim Ford who works at the grocery store.

Heath’s life seemed to brighten after he met his Australian girlfriend.

"What our family was thinking was a fairy tale story, that he met this girl and followed her to Australia, has turned into a nightmare," said John.

Heath had plans to bring his girlfriend to Manitoba in May. Those plans are now on hold.