An Abbotsford man was airlifted to hospital with stab wounds following the second violent late-night brawl in two months.

A 25-year-old man suffered severe injuries after being stabbed in the abdomen during a fight between two groups of men in the 31600 block of Old Yale Road just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, said Const. Ian MacDonald.

The victim was airlifted to a Vancouver area hospital where he underwent surgery and is recovering, said MacDonald.

A second 21-year-old man attended Abbotsford Regional Hospital for a cut to his hand inflicted in the dispute.

The altercation is not linked to a teenage brawl on Dec. 10 in Clearbrook Park in which a 17-year-old youth was sent to hospital in critical condition after being beaten about the head by a baseball bat, said MacDonald.

However, the two incidents have similarities, said MacDonald.

"There is some correlation between young men making poor decisions late night," he said.

"Both are equally troubling, with groups of people rendezvousing with each other with conflict on their minds."

In both instances, the police were contacted only because someone was seriously injured, noted MacDonald.

And in both cases, investigators are having trouble gathering pertinent information from those involved or who witnessed the incident.

Family, friends and those who witnessed the altercation should encourage one another to cooperate with investigators, said MacDonald.

None of the 10 or so people reportedly involved in the dispute have any significant history with police, he said.

- Major crime detectives are requesting additional witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to contact Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com

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