A man who experienced horrific injuries at the hands of an alleged torturer was reunited with relatives Monday in British Columbia.
Dustin LaFortune arrived at the Victoria, B.C., airport Monday afternoon after receiving months of medical treatment at a Regina hospital.
"I'm feeling good," said LaFortune, who was embraced by family members in the airport. "I'm so excited."
Police believe LaFortune, 26, was savagely beaten and starved for more than a year, before he was dropped off at a hospital last April. He had shrunk down to just 87 pounds from his normal weight of 245 pounds.
It took more than a month of medical treatment before police investigators could even speak to him.
Although LaFortune is now out of hospital, he still requires reconstructive surgery to his face and must see a specialist for brain damage.
LaFortune said he looks forward to finishing his therapy in Victoria with the support of family, "So I can go back out into the real world."
His mother, Renee LaFortune, said Monday that "Dustin is coming home and that's where he should be."
"He doesn't have to go through this alone," she added. "It's been so difficult having him go through this in Saskatchewan with his family in B.C. and Manitoba. We haven't been able to be there for him every minute, and now we're going to be."
Dustin Paxton, 30, faces numerous charges including aggravated assault, forcible confinement and breach of probation. He was arrested in Edmonton this month after a Canada-wide warrant was issued.
Paxton's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 3.
With a report from CTV Winnipeg
