College Student Beaten in Spring Break Attack

By Ellen Goldberg

College Student Beaten in Spring Break Attack

March 21, 2012 Updated Mar 21, 2012 at 10:52 AM PDT

A 21-year-old Dallas native is fighting for his life after he was beaten and stabbed on South Padre Island during spring break.

Two friends of Derek Madrigal said he was defending a girl's honor when as many as 10 men jumped him Saturday afternoon.

Patrick Jones and Ryan Leach, both of Dallas, said they got separated from Madrigal among the large crowds that congregate on the beach. They have since seen a graphic video of the attack that was posted online.

"They are just beating him with coolers, and you can see stab wounds," Jones said. "It's like, enough, someone tries to help him up, but they pull him back and keep beating him."

Madrigal's father, Frank, said his son was stabbed nine times and has a collapsed lung. He has undergone two surgeries since Saturday.

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