Pemberton Music Festival stabbing sends West Vancouver man to hospital

A 21-year-old from West Vancouver, B.C. is in hospital in serious condition after he was stabbed early Monday in the staff campground area of the Pemberton Music Festival.

RCMP were called at about 5:00 a.m. PT following reports of a stabbing and someone being pepper sprayed.

It turned out the two incidents were linked, said Sgt. Rob Knapton of the Whistler RCMP.

The West Vancouver man was stabbed by an alleged attacker, and a third person used bear spray in an effort to stop the attack, he said.

The Pemberton Music Festival was held July 14 to 17, and saw 45,000 fans per day attend the event held outside Pemberton, B.C., a village municipality north of Whistler with a population of about 3,000 people.

Music at the festival ended yesterday, but the campgrounds remained open until Monday afternoon.

Victim airlifted to hospital

The victim was medevacked to Vancouver General Hospital and remains in serious condition, said Knapton.

A 23-year-old man from Vancouver has been arrested for assault causing bodily harm.

It's not clear what led to the stabbing, whether the two men knew each other, or whether they worked at the festival.

Festival organizers issued a statement that didn't directly address the stabbing, as it'sa police matter.

"With more than 180,000 music fans attending Pemberton Music Festival throughout the weekend, it is not uncommon for security or medical issues to arise," the organizers wrote.

"We take our responsibility to our fans and crew very seriously and want to remind those departing the festival grounds to maintain the 'Pemby Spirit and to be careful and look after one another."