Family hopes charges upgraded in bar fight death

 An investigation has been launched after a Calgary man died following a fight outside a bar in B.C.

39-year-old Christian Ball was on business in Fort St. John last month, and was out for drinks with a colleague when a fight broke out between them and two other men. Ball was knocked unconscious and had to be airlifted to hospital in Edmonton.

On August 2, his family had to make the tough decision to take him off life support.

“It’s a hell of a thing to have to pull a breathing tube out of his nose and watch him pass away,” said his brother, Jonathan Ball. “I’ll never forget it and my family is never going to forget it.”

He said he believes Chris was punched in the head and suffered severe head injuries. An autopsy is now underway.

“Even now I say, ‘I’ll talk to Chris,’” said his mother, Lindsay O’Dwyer. “I can’t believe he’s not here,”

The family maintains Chris wasn’t the type of person to pick a fight, and hope charges will be upgraded against the two men arrested in connection with the incident.

25-year-old William Metcalfe of Kelowna and 29-year-old Joel Marchand of Prince George are facing assault charges.

RCMP say the investigation is ongoing.