A 22-year-old Gabriola Island man has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon and aggravated assault following an altercation just before midnight Saturday at the Old City Pub on Skinner Street.
During the melee,a 26-year-old man received a life-threatening injury to his neck after being struck by a broken bottle and required emergency medical treatment.
A 32-year-old man was also struck, cut and knocked unconscious.
Both men were transported by ambulance to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for treatment.
Eli Williams, the alleged assailant, fled before police arrived, but was located and arrested several days later by RCMP on Gabriola Island.
Williams was held in custody and appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Thursday.
“The injuries inflicted by the broken bottle were horrendous," Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. "If not for emergency medical treatment provided by attending Paramedics, and later by emergency room physicians, these injuries could have been fatal.
Police took statements provided by several witnesses to the attack, but investigators would like to speak to anyone who was present at the time of the assault.
Anyone with information about this crime, please contact any member of the Nanaimo RCMP Bike Unit at 250-754-2345.