Eric Boucher had never been out of the country until last week, when he and his friends traveled to the Bahamas for spring break.
Boucher’s fun was cut short, however, when he was stabbed twice and suffered a collapsed lung in an attack in Nassau the night of March 14, his stepfather said.
The Salem native was headed back to the United States yesterday on a cruise ship because his wound precluded him from flying. He was expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today, then take a train with family members the rest of the way home. His traveling companions ﾗ some from high school, some from college ﾗ have flown home.
“It’s going to take some time, but we’re going to get him here,” said his stepfather, John Curtin.
Boucher, 20, a student at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., had been recovering in a hospital ward in Nassau, the Bahamas, Curtin said. He spoke to his stepson briefly yesterday morning by telephone.
“He was in a little pain, coughing,” he said. “He didn’t sound as healthy as he did a couple of days ago, but that’s to be expected.”
By yesterday, medical tubes had been taken out of his chest.
The family is still getting over the shock of what happened. At the same time, they’ve been hustling to get Boucher back to the States and further medical care.
Details about the stabbing remained murky yesterday. Curtin said two men have been arrested in the attack. He said they tried to persuade Boucher to get into a bogus taxi and that Boucher knew something was wrong and tried to get away.
An actual cab driver who tried to help Boucher was stabbed in the face, Curtin said. Royal Bahamas Police Force officials said they could not provide any information yesterday.
Boucher’s mother, Jeanne Boucher, learned of the attack by telephone and arrived in the Bahamas Saturday.
“You’d think everything is safe, but then something stupid like this happens,” Curtin said.
Boucher is a sophomore studying business law at Merrimack, Curtin said. He is a 2003 graduate of Salem High School, where he was a star pitcher and a football running back. Curtin said Boucher also made high honors in high school and college.
It’s unclear when Boucher will return to school. He will be taken to an area hospital for treatment once he gets back, Curtin said, or possibly somewhere en route home if it’s necessary.
College spokeswoman Heather Notaro said professors have been notified of Boucher’s condition and the school is “ready to help in any further way.”
By MIKE KALIL, Union Leader Correspondent
