A Regina man says his family is terrified and traumatized after he was stabbed six times by a youth he caught breaking into his vehicle.

"I am totally lucky to be alive," Grant Hughes told CBC News on Monday, a day after being stabbed in the ribs, shoulder and his side. "A half inch, either way, and I would not be here."

Hughes said on early Sunday morning, he was camping out in his backyard in the north end of the city with his two sons, ages five and nine, when he heard what sounded like someone opening his van.

He rushed to see what was happening and saw four people ransacking the vehicle. He managed to grab one of them, a youth, and called for his wife to call the police.

'I thought at first he was just punching me, then I realized he was stabbing me.'—Grant Hughes

He said the youth was calm at first, but then the incident took a horrifying turn.

"It just happened so quick, it was just unbelievable," he said. "I thought at first he was just punching me, then I realized he was stabbing me."

What followed, Hughes said, was a desperate struggle where he was eventually able to pin the youth down and take the knife away. The knife appeared to be about 10 inches (about 25 centimetres) long, he said.

The youth continued to punch at him, but "adrenaline took over," he said. He was able to hold onto the youth until the police arrived.

Hughes was taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds. The knife missed any vital organs and he was treated and released.

While the struggle was going on, Hughes's nine-year-old son was watching through a window. Today, the boy is still "totally scared" and doesn't even want to go to school, he said.

"My family is terrified, terrified," he said.

Hughes said he hopes people will say a prayer for his family. He warns people they should be aware of how dangerous such situations can be.

"I hope people open up their eyes," he said. "Use extreme caution with these young offenders."

Police said four male youths have been arrested and are scheduled to appear in court Monday facing a number of charges.