Lybster exile (29) killed in Canadian bar attack
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A CAITHNESS woman spoke this week of the "nightmare" of losing her youngest nephew in a fight in Canada – just four months after the death of her brother.
Liz Cornwall, who lived in Wick with her husband Tom before moving to North Walsham in Norfolk 20 years ago, said the death of 29-year-old David Bain had devastated the family.
David lived in Lybster until he was about 15 when he emigrated to Canada with his parents, Robert and Janet Bain, and his two older brothers, Jody and Jamie. They lived in Belleville in Ontario.
David, a former pupil at Wick High School, worked with a company called Hastings Home Improvements but was in the process of changing jobs at the time of his death.
He was in a bar with a friend when another customer appears to have picked a fight with him. It is not known what happened but it seems a few punches were landed and David fell and struck his head. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead there.
"It has been like a nightmare," Mrs Cornwall told the Caithness Courier this week.
"It is hard to take it all in and comes just a few months after I lost my brother. He died in April at the age of 62." She also revealed that her sister-in-law, Janet is recovering after taking a heart attack recently.
"David was my youngest nephew and was very well liked. We cannot understand why this fight occurred – a fight which tragically cost him his life," said Mrs Cornwall.
"David has a three-year-old son who has now lost his dad and grandad in just a few short months," she added.
Mrs Cornwall said an individual is in police custody following the incident. David’s funeral is to take place on Friday.
Former Lybster councillor Peter Sutherland, who knew the Bains when they lived in the village, was shocked by the tragedy. "My condolences go out to the family. Everybody who knew them in Lybster will be very sad by what has happened," he said.
"They were a popular and well-liked family. Bob grew up in the village and Janet worked as a volunteer at the day centre for quite a while. David was just a teenager when I remember him but he was a fine lad and a well-liked member of the community.
"My thoughts go out to the family. David’s death is a deep shock to us all," added Mr Sutherland.
Marshall Bowman, a former community councillor, was also saddened by the news. "I am very sorry to hear about the sudden passing of David Bain, particularly coming so soon after his father’s death," he said.
