WEST Belfast boxer Caoimhin Hynes received a warm welcome home from hospital yesterday as he recovers from his stabbing ordeal.
The 20-year-old was in the city centre outside McDonald's with his girlfriend after a night out when he was sliced across the face.
He received multiple stitches and underwent further surgery following the serious assault in the early hours of Monday on Donegall Place.
The young sportsman, who is considered a rising star of amateur boxing, said he feels "very lucky" to have survived.
He has received many messages of support since the attack including from boxing stars Carl Frampton and Tyson Fury.
"It's been overwhelming the support I've got, not just from friends and family but from people all over the world," he wrote online just before leaving hospital.
"This has been an experience I never want to have again, but there's no doubt in my mind that I'll get over it all and be back to normal soon."
After leaving hospital yesterday, his coach Michael Hawkins of Holy Trinity boxing club treated him to a fry at Kelstar cafe, which supports the club and where members would regularly eat.
"He was three days in hospital. He didn't eat much so he decided he wanted something nice when he got out, so I treated him. He was looking forward all morning to the fry," he said.
"He's home, we're happy, and we're going to try and get back to normal."
Mr Hynes, who hopes to compete at the next Commonwealth Games, just recently returned from Paris where he won gold at the Montana Belts tournament.
Police said they received a report of an ongoing altercation involving a number of people shortly before 2.50am on Monday at Donegall Place. They have appealed for information.
