BYU basketball player Chris Collinsworth, currently serving an LDS Church mission in Australia, and his companion are recovering from serious injuries after being attacked by three men Tuesday night in Sydney.

None of the stab wounds or injuries, however, are life-threatening, according to an official statement released by the LDS Church on Wednesday.

Collinsworth, 19, of Mapleton and David Ferguson, 21, of Great Falls, Mont., were jumped from behind by three men, believed to be in their 20s, at 8:40 p.m. as they were walking back to their apartment in the Australia Sydney North Mission. The church statement called it "an unprovoked attack."

When the first attacker jumped on Collinsworth's back, he flipped the assailant over his shoulder and onto the pavement, according to Jeff Collinsworth, the father of the former Provo High star.

As the 6-foot-9 Collinsworth was busy fighting off the first attacker, a second man then began assaulting him. When Ferguson tried to pull the second attacker away, the third man stabbed and slashed both missionaries with a small knife. During the tussle, the attackers managed to pull Collinsworth's shirt up over his face and tackle him to the ground. While on the ground, and with his shirt over his face, Collinsworth was kicked and slugged repeatedly.

"They beat him up pretty good," Jeff Collinsworth said.

Fortunately, a man passing by in a car saw the scuffle, pulled his car up and shined his headlights toward the attack — which scared the assailants away.

"That man probably saved their lives," Jeff Collinsworth said. "At the very least, Chris probably would have lost his teeth."

Collinsworth spent Tuesday night in a Sydney hospital with a substantial stab wound to his back, but was released to the mission home Wednesday morning.

"He said he's ready to get back to work," Jeff Collinsworth said.

Ferguson sustained substantial cuts to his legs, arms and hands and underwent surgery on Tuesday and remained hospitalized Wednesday but, according to the church statement, should be released soon.

The U.S. Embassy in Australia is currently working with local authorities in trying to identify and locate the attackers. Officials are unsure of the motive for the attack, but the missionaries were not robbed or asked for money.

"Mission leaders and the elders are working with police to apprehend the attackers," the church statement said.

Collinsworth has been in the mission field for six months. Last season, as a freshman, he played in all 35 games and averaged 2.5 points per game and 1.5 rebounds in almost 16 minutes of action per game.

BYU basketball coach Dave Rose was saddened, concerned and a bit relieved about the incident.

"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," Rose said. "It's a very unfortunate situation and my thoughts and prayers are with both families that are dealing with this right now.

"I know there is some sense of relief that given the nature of the attack no one sustained any life-threatening injuries. ... Chris is a great young man who is proud to be serving his mission. I'm sure he will rise above this and respond in a positive way as he does with everything else in his life."

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