Local student beaten, left in coma in New York

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A family is hoping surveillance video will help catch the attackers of a local student who was attending college out of state.

Eddy Sanchez, 22, a college student from South Florida now lies in a coma after several men savagely beat him in a robbery gone wrong thousands of miles from home.

His family left South Florida to be at his bedside in New York, as they hold out hope that surveillance video will help capture his attackers.

Police released the surveillance footage showing some men withdrawing cash from an ATM, in hopes it will lead to an arrest in the case. Investigators said the card the men are using belongs to the victim.

The Columbus High School graduate studied at Florida International University before heading out of state. He's in his last year at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, studying to be an architect.

Officials said Sanchez was on his way to class when five to seven guys came up, punched him, kicked him and hit him over the head with a crowbar, leaving him on the sidewalk without his wallet. "Motivation was robbery, his credit cards were taken from him, and his credit cards subsequently used," said New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

The family also would like to see the people responsible caught, but more than that, they want Sanchez to pull through and recover. His grandfather, Manuel Azcue said, "We ask everybody to please pray with us, so we can have Eddy back soon. It's been really tough, but thanks to everybody for their prayers, and keep them going, keep them going."

(Copyright 2009 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)