PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Bend man who was attacked and stabbed on a beach in Ecuador last month has recovered enough to be released into his sister's care in California, his father said.

The victim, 35-year-old Britt Leis, spent the past month in a hospital after he was attacked by two men and stabbed 18 times.

The wounds became infected, and he was in and out of consciousness and hospitalized in critical condition.

Ronald Leis, Britt's father, said his son is able to walk and speak well after a month in the hospital.

"He's a full month, maybe two, ahead of schedule on his recovery," the elder Leis said. "We're really elated to see his body growing back together. It's like a birthday present."

He offered no further details on his son's condition, except to say there was still a problem with his throat.

Leah Koehn, Leis' 24-year-old fiancee, wrote in the couple's blog on Oct. 25 that surgeons had operated on his esophagus.

The couple were walking on the beach on Oct. 16, when Leis was assaulted.

Doctors in Ecuador removed Leis' pancreas and repaired damage to his spleen and some arteries to ready him for the flight back to the United States.

He was flown 60 miles east of Los Angeles to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where Leis' sister Amber is a resident surgeon.

Doctors say Leis is likely to heal faster at his sister's home, his father said.