The grieving, Christchurch-born coach of the United States volleyball team has joined his American family at the bedside of his mother-in law as she fights for her life in a Beijing hospital.

Barbara Bachman survived a vicious attack that left her husband, American businessman Todd Bachman, 62, dead.

After eight hours of surgery, Barbara Bachman, 62, last night remained in a critical condition as her family, including her New Zealand son-in-law Hugh McCutcheon and his wife, former American volleyball player Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon, kept vigil.

McCutcheon, the head coach of the US men's team, has taken leave from his Games role. He had been preparing his gold medal-favourite team for its first game when told his father-in-law had been murdered.

The Bachmans were in Beijing to support McCutcheon's team when they were attacked by a knife-wielding Chinese man while sightseeing on Saturday.

In Christchurch last night, McCutcheon's mother, Milly, said the attack had left the whole family in shock.

"It's just an utter tragedy. It's as simple as that. There's nothing to hang it on it's just a crazy man."

Barbara Bachman suffered multiple stab wounds after reportedly rushing to help her husband as he was attacked while visiting the Drum Tower, an ancient time-keeping building in central Beijing.

Chinese authorities last night described the killer, Tang Yongming, 47, as a "deranged criminal". The unemployed man leapt to his death from the second floor of the Drum Tower after the attack.

McCutcheon's wife, Elisabeth was with her parents at the time, but was not injured.

Milly McCutcheon said her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were with her at her Richmond home and were receiving frequent phone calls from her son in Beijing, who was "absolutely shattered".

Barbara Bachman was "desperately ill" in intensive care and Hugh and Elisabeth were at the hospital by her side, she said.

"We're all just hoping and praying she will survive," she said.

The attack defied belief, she said. "How do you live with that? How do you live with any of it? The mind just doesn't want to comprehend any of it, really. It's just so random and ... incredible."

United States Olympic officials said the Bachmans were staying in a hotel and were not wearing any clothing identifying them as Americans or being associated with the US team when they were attacked.

Milly McCutcheon said Hugh and Elisabeth had been married for almost two years.

The extended McCutcheon family were very close to her son's new family and were a "tight unit", she said

"Todd (Bachman) was one of the finest people I've ever met, I think. They're just some of life's finest people," she said.

The Bachman name is well-known in the family's home-town of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they headed Bachman's floral, home and garden stores, a 123-year-old family business.

McCutcheon, a former Shirley Boys' High School pupil, became head coach of the US men's volleyball team in 2005 after stints coaching the national boys' team and a professional team in Vienna, Austria.

He played professionally in Finland and Japan after playing at Brigham Young University in Utah, where he transferred from the University of Canterbury in 1991.

Hugh McCutcheon represented New Zealand in volleyball in 1996 and in beach volleyball in 1997.

His wife, Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman McCutcheon, was also a high-level volleyball player who was in the US team at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

A long-time friend of Hugh McCutcheon, New Zealand high-performance beach volleyball manager Mike Dudson, said the news was "surreal unbelievable".

Dudson said his friend had overcome many hurdles to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

The Beijing Olympics were set to be the crowning achievement of his career and for a tragedy such as this to happen was "very, very sad", he said.

 

- The Press