A woman in Vancouver is speaking out after she was attacked in Stanley Park by a man who allegedly tried to bite her thumb off.
According to the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, she was walking in the park on Monday afternoon when she encountered the suspect. She described him as a tall, muscular man in his 30s with a shaved head and a tattoo on his neck.
The woman says the man approached her and asked for a cigarette. When she told him she didn’t have one, he became aggressive and started yelling at her. She tried to walk away, but the man followed her and grabbed her arm.
“He was trying to bite my thumb off,” the woman said. “I was screaming for help, but no one was around.”
Fortunately, a passerby heard her screams and came to her aid. The suspect then fled the scene.
The victim suffered minor injuries to her hand and arm, but she says the emotional trauma of the attack has been difficult to overcome.
“I’m still in shock,” she said. “I never thought something like this could happen to me in broad daylight.”
The Vancouver Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
This attack is just the latest in a string of violent incidents in Stanley Park, including a sexual assault and several unprovoked assaults on park visitors. The park has also seen an increase in homeless encampments, which some believe may be contributing to the rise in crime.
The city has responded by increasing police presence in the park and implementing new safety measures, such as installing more lighting and adding security cameras.
The victim is urging others to be cautious when visiting Stanley Park and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through,” she said. “We need to work together to make our parks safe for everyone.”
