Composite drawing of suspect in stabbing investigation. (Victoria Police Department)

Victoria police are appealing for the public's help in apprehending a man who stabbed and seriously injured a newlywed after he'd broken into her home Wednesday morning.

Jessica Ziakin, 26, was awakened at about 4 a.m. PT by the sound of an intruder and confronted a man, who then stabbed her in the leg, severing an artery, Victoria police said Friday.

The woman's husband of less than a month heard her screams and grabbed the man, but let him go when he saw his wife bleeding heavily. The suspect got away but left his shoes behind, police said.

Police have released a composite sketch of the suspect.

"This was a vicious attack, this was not a defensive sort of one stab, this was malicious. She lost nearly half of her blood," the woman's father, Paul Ziakin, told a Victoria news conference.

The woman's femoral artery was cut in the assault.

"He's feeling … terrible guilt, for not protecting her."—Paul Ziakin, about his son-in law

Jessica Ziakin and Matthew Cook were married three weeks ago. They had returned from their honeymoon days before the attack.

"We had just got done celebrating their life together, and now we're praying that she lives, we're praying that she survives." Her father said.

This is one of two Adidas sneakers left behind by a burglar who police say stabbed a woman Wednesday. (Victoria Police Department)

Cook has been by his wife's side since the attack, her father said.

"He's pretty shaken up. He's feeling a lot of guilt, terrible guilt, for not protecting her," Ziakin said.

Police said it's unusual for an apparent burglar to injure someone when caught in a residence.

"This seems to be a deliberate attack on the female before he fled the residence, which is … very rare," said Victoria police spokesperson Sgt. Grant Hamilton.

Police described the man as in his mid-20s with short dark hair and a widow's peak, five-foot-six to five-foot-10, with a slim athletic build.

Paul Zakian, father of Jessica Zakian, spoke at a Victoria police news conference, calling the attack vicious and malicious. (CBC)

He was wearing black track pants with stripes, and a shiny nylon hoodie.

The man also left behind a pair of Adidas sneakers. Police said he'd likely taken the shoes off in an effort to make less noise during the burglary.

Victoria police asked that anyone who can help identify the man responsible for the break-in and assault to call them or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.