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Alisa Collinsworth saw the 6:30 a.m. phone call, identified only as coming from "out of area," but picked up anyway.
She didn't recognize the voice of her own son immediately, but Mom was quickly told: "First, don't panic. I'm fine. I got jumped. I'm in the hospital. I'm fine." Chris Collinsworth, a 6-foot-9 Brigham Young University basketball player who's nearly six months into his proselytizing mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was along with his companion a victim of a group attack Tuesday night in Sydney, Australia. Collinsworth called about 10:30 p.m. his time, his mother said, which is 16 hours ahead of local time. He had been taken to a local hospital with stab wounds that are not life-threatening. Collinsworth, 19, spent a night in the hospital before his release. His missionary companion, David Ferguson of Great Falls, Mont., is still hospitalized and has required surgery on his hand, according to Alisa Collinsworth, because of blade cuts. She said Chris has shown no inclination to return home. "I asked him if he was nervous or scared, but he just laughed," Alisa said. The Collinsworth family has been apprised by LDS officials in Australia that the attack was unusual. At this point, it's hard to pinpoint a motive. No valuables were asked for or taken. A church press release called the attack "unprovoked" as the elders were returning to their apartment about 8:30 p.m. The U. S. Embassy in Australia is working with local authorities and church officials in trying to identify the assailants. There's the thought that Collinsworth was picked on because he's the big kid, with his height and 225 pounds. The Collinsworth family said Chris' biggest injuries, bruises and whiplash, came because the three attackers pulled his shirt over his face and tackled him. A passerby reportedly stopped the assault by "honking his horn and yelling at the top of his lungs," Alisa said. Last winter, as a college freshman, Collinsworth played in all 35 games and averaged 2.5 points per game and 1.5 rebounds in almost 16 minutes of action per game. The Provo High graduate was a highly valued power forward reserve, and it'll be a role that BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose will be challenged to fill. BYU team practices start Friday. Rose issued a statement that he has been concerned and is in contact with Collinsworth's family, but "I know there is some sense of relief that given the nature of the attack no one sustained any life-threatening injuries. Chris is a great young man who is proud to be serving his mission. I'm sure he will rise above this and respond in a positive way as he does with everything else in his life." A CAT scan revealed no kidney damage, which was feared because of the stab-wound location on Collinsworth's back. He is no stranger to injuries. He has broken his wrist, had a foot stress fracture, broken a finger and absorbed an eye injury after getting poked. Alisa Collinsworth was in good spirits talking about her son. She said he's really conforming to the area, enjoying work. "I didn't recognize his voice right away because he has developed a little Australian accent," she said. |
