Friends of a San Francisco man who was severely beaten and robbed while he was walking in the Fisherman's Wharf area are asking for help.

Vinh Vu is now fighting for his life at San Francisco General Hospital.

Police say the 32-year old was walking on Beach Street at Columbus Avenue by the Cannery on Saturday when five or six men attacked him from behind. The area is well-lit and popular with tourists.

Vinh's friends say they are stunned by what happened. He was just steps from the Argonaut Hotel where he works as an overnight clerk when he was attacked.

"He has 20 staples in his head. He actually told us yesterday that he thought he wasn't going to make it," friend Raymond Ha said.

Ha and his wife Mimi Pham say their friend is suffering from serious injuries to his head and spinal cord and he is unable to move his arms and legs.



"We're just very scared that he doesn't get a full recovery," says Ha.


The couple says they're taking turns with other friends to stay by Vinh's bedside.

"You can take his old iPhone. You can take his backpack. But don't beat someone and make them paralyzed. It just doesn't make sense to us," says Ha.

Police say they are reviewing surveillance video from the area and are hoping to get more.

"We are working on some leads. We're hoping to develop that into an arrest," says Officer Robert Rueca, spokesman with the San Francisco Police Department.



Pham has started a Gofundme to help her friend. She says Vinh works two jobs to help support his parents and brothers.



"It's pretty hard. You're down there. You want someone to pick you up. That's what we're trying to do right now," says Pham.



Ha has a pleas for those responsible for the attack, "If you did this please come forward."



Police have not released any description of the suspects.

Friends say Vinh is a big sports fans.

On Sunday, they plan to visit him in the hospital and watch the Super Bowl with him.

