A man who nearly lost his life in an unprovoked stabbing at an Everett bus station met the deputy who saved him.
Fotiki Fofana, 49, was waiting at an Everett bus bay in January when a 25-year-old man started to punch him in the face. Fofana ran, but the suspect chased and then stabbed him.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Cline, who was stopped at a traffic light nearby, saw Fofana running and bleeding heavily from his neck. Cline applied pressure to his multiple neck wounds.
As Cline tended to Fofana, he called for medical help while a witness pointed out that the attacker was coming toward them. With no backup, Cline kept the suspect away from them with verbal commands.
The suspect took off, but a transit officer arrested him.
After several surgeries, Fofana is now recovering at home. He wanted to thank the deputy.
"My hero! My hero!" Fofana said when Cline arrived at the door of his home. The Community Transit blog announced the reunion on Friday, just a few days after the two met.
Fofana has a long road of recovery ahead, but thanked Cline for knowing how to save his life.
The victim does not the suspect, who was charged with attempted murder by the prosecutor’s office this week.
Cox Media Group
