CALGARY (CBC) - The daughters of a man who was badly beaten less than two days after arriving in Calgary to look for work pleaded Friday for help in catching his attackers.

James Patchett's three daughters travelled from Peterborough, Ont., to his bedside at the Foothills Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

"Anybody who's needed help, he's helped. He's one man that definitely doesn't deserve what happened to him and it's really heart-wrenching for us girls," Amber Patchett said Friday. "For whoever did this, I really hope they get caught."

The women said they couldn't believe someone could carry out such an attack on another human being.

James Patchett, 46, had arrived in Calgary late Saturday or early Sunday morning on a Greyhound bus from Vancouver, said police. His daughters said he had just received his truck driver's licence and planned to look for a job.

Sometime after 3 a.m. Monday, Patchett was savagely attacked as he slept in his sleeping bag under some trees by 14th Street and 9th Avenue SW.

He managed to stagger back to the Greyhound terminal nearby for help. Patchett underwent surgery and was in an induced coma. He is now conscious but still unable to speak.

"It's not good but you do see improvements every day," said Ashley Patchett.

Calgarians have flooded the police with offers of money, shelter and jobs for Patchett, which have been passed on to the family.

The victim's daughters were only able to fly to Calgary Wednesday because of the donations and they repeatedly thanked the public Friday for their generosity.

Meanwhile, police say they have few leads in the case.

"It's very difficult, when you don't have witnesses, when you don't have video surveillance," said Det. Len Dafoe. "It makes it particularly difficult, especially when the victim can't communicate with you."

He's hoping for a tip to come in because people involved in an attack like this will usually tell someone, he said.

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