Daughter speaks out after cadet captain injured at Hamilton restaurant

Unable to walk and facing a long recovery, more details are emerging about Capt. Kenneth Kunkel, who was viciously attacked at the Mandarin restaurant on Barton Street earlier this week.

His daughter tells CHCH News that her father was knocked to the ground and could not get up or move his legs while allegedly being beaten by a 12-year-old boy.

Kunkel is the victim of the horrific attack that has shocked the community.

“As soon as it happened, he tried to stand up and he wasn’t able to,” his daughter Kimberly Dietrich says. “So at that moment he knew he couldn’t move the legs.”

Dietrich said her father was knocked to the ground at the Mandarin on Barton Street on Sunday, immediately losing function in his legs.

Despite being on the floor and unable to move, Dietrich said the attack continued.

“The kid took the opportunity when my dad couldn’t move to do more damage to him as well, which is the hardest thing I’ve heard,” she says.

Hamilton police say two young cadets were collecting donations for poppies outside the restaurant on Sunday afternoon when two youths approached them and blew an air horn in their ears.

Kunkel, who was supervising the cadets, followed the youths into the buffet to confront them.

“His main thing was to have the cops called on these kids for assaulting the cadets,” Dietrich said.

That is when police say the 59-year-old cadet captain was attacked by a 12-year-old boy and a 48-year-old woman, Estela Quintanilla, who had no connection to anyone involved.

“What’s their motive of doing something like this?” Dietrich asked. “And talking to so many people in the community, this isn’t new.”

Dietrich said her father has served with the cadets for 20 years and was in uniform during the attack.

READ MORE: Canadian Armed Forces member violently assaulted in Hamilton ID’d as Ken Kunkel

A loving husband, father and grandfather, Dietrich says her dad loves being with his family, and the day before the attack he was out trick-or-treating with his grandchildren.

“We just saw him, you know? He was walking with them, doing trick-or-treating, happy-go-lucky guy, and then I get the phone call that our whole world changed,” she says.

The attack has garnered attention across the country, with government officials speaking out on the devastating act of violence.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath saying in part: “As a community, we are having a hard time taking in that he’s now facing a long recovery because of a shocking and violent attack.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote: “No child should fear violence while selling a poppy. No Canadian should be brutalized for standing up for them.”

Hamilton MP Ned Kuruc rose in the House of Commons to speak about the incident.

“I am absolutely disgusted by this violent attack, especially given the significance of the Remembrance Day poppy drive,” Kuruc says.

Dietrich said now more than ever, the poppy holds a special place in her heart.

“This is such an important cause,” she said. “I think this is really highlighting even more, make sure you go and buy your poppy, go support the legions, go support your veterans.”

Dietrich said Kunkel underwent emergency spinal surgery on Sunday and his journey ahead remains uncertain.

But one thing is for sure: to his family, he is an inspiration.

“My dad is definitely a role model to me and so many other people,” she said. “He’s been there for us, done everything for us. I had so many great opportunities because he did the cadet corps with me.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.

WATCH MORE: Canadian Armed Forces member suffers life-altering injuries in Hamilton restaurant assault