A Sydney father is fighting for his life in a Colombian hospital after being kidnapped, tortured, and stabbed more than 25 times during a trip to attend the EDC music festival in Medellín.
According to an online fundraiser established on his behalf, Frank Stephen Ramirez was targeted after leaving the festival, forced into a vehicle, and subjected to a violent assault. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers tortured him in an attempt to extort money. He sustained numerous stab wounds, including eight to his right thigh and six to his left thigh.
Organizers of the fundraiser stated that the attackers kicked him out of the moving car and left him on the street. Colombian police reportedly found Mr. Ramirez and transported him to a hospital in Medellín, where he is currently receiving treatment and beginning a lengthy recovery process.
Mr. Ramirez's family is urgently seeking funds to fly his wife to Colombia to be with him. They also aim to cover mounting medical expenses and provide financial support for the family while he is unable to work. The fundraiser describes Mr. Ramirez as a devoted father, loving husband, and cherished friend who had worked to build a life for his family in Sydney.
"Frank did not deserve this," the fundraiser organizers stated. "He went to Colombia with nothing but positive energy to enjoy an event he loved. He has been robbed not just of his money, but of his safety, his health, and his peace of mind."