Both missionaries were transported to a nearby hospital after being attacked by "at least three men," in a section of Sydney known as "Little Lebanon," according to Collinsworth's father, Jeff Collinsworth.
Ferguson, 21, is still hospitalized after undergoing surgery for mutliple stab wounds and lacerations, Collinsworth said. The church's statement said he will be released soon.
Chris Collinsworth, a 6-foot-9 forward from Provo High who played for the Cougars last season before departing on his two-year mission, received one deep stab wound to his back and various other lacerations and bruises and was held in the hospital overnight before being released to the mission home Wednesday morning.
A former Salt Lake Tribune 4A basketball MVP, Collinsworth played in all 35 games last season and averaged just under 16 minutes per game, scoring 3.2 points per game and grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game for the Cougars.
The church said the attack took place at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday and that mission leaders, the missionaries and a witness are working with police to apprehend the attackers. Jeff Collinsworth said that as of 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in Utah, none of the assailants had been apprehended.
Having spoken to his son and Salt Lake City's Bud Scruggs, president of the North Sydney Mission, on Wednesday morning, Jeff Collinsworth said the reason for the attack was unknown. Nothing was demanded and neither missionary was robbed.
His son estimated the assailants were in their 20s.
BYU basketball coach Dave Rose, who was informed of the attack while at Tuesday's Mountain West Conference basketball media day in Las Vegas, issued a statement on Wednesday.
"I have had the opportunity to speak with Chris' family about what happened and share my feelings and concerns for the well-being of both Chris and one of his fellow missionaries. It's a very unfortunate situation and my thoughts and prayers are with both families that are dealing with this right now.....Chris is a great young man who is proud to be serving his mission. I am sure he will rise above this and respond in a positive way as he does with everything else in his life."
Jeff Collinsworth said both elders were "roughed up pretty good." The stab wound in Chris' back was too deep and wide to be stitched up, so doctors performed an operation to "glue" the wound shut.
Ferguson is not Collinsworth's "regular" companion because the missionaries were on "splits" that day, a situation where missionaries trade companions for a day or two.
Collinsworth said while the missionaries were being attacked a man passing by in a car saw the scuffle and shined his headlights on it. At that point, the assailants fled.
Collinsworth said his son will definitely not return home and plans on finishing his mission. He has been out six months.
