Frank Madrigal remembers spending time on South Padre Island years ago when his three sons were just kids.
His youngest, 21-year-old Derek Madrigal, was just six.
Now a college student on Spring Break, Madrigal said Derek was standing up for a woman who was allegedly punched while on the beach.
Police said the end result was Derek getting stabbed nine times.
"He's had a to be under assistance to his lung, due to the collapse from the stabbing,” Madrigal said. “He actually spent two days in intensive care."
Island police arrested 33-year-old Michael Rangel of San Antonio for the attack.
He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but the student’s father said it’s not enough.
"Where do you draw the line between an aggravated assault?” Madrigal said. “Does it come on the second stab in the back or the chest? The third (stab) on the back or the one on the stomach? Or the one just a quarter inch from his right eye? Which stab does (it go) from aggravated assault to attempted murder?”
Madrigal adds that his son's alleged attacker turned what should've been a fun break from hitting the books into a near fatal event.
He said it's not what young college students are looking for.
"(Spring Break has) unfortunately drawn those that are beyond the age of college to try to rejuvenate themselves,” Madrigal said. “I think the crowds have inflated a great deal by the spectators that want to feel what the youth is doing."
The Madrigal family hopes Derek will be stable enough to travel back to Dallas later this week to continue his recovery.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS GRAPHIC AND MAY BE DISTRUBING TO SOME VIEWERS. IT WAS SENT TO ACTION 4 NEWS AND IS ALLEGEDLY CELL PHONE FOOTAGE TAKEN DURING THE ATTACK ON DEREK MADRIGAL.
To view the video click here.
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