Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, the serviceman who made headlines when he and his buddies disarmed a terrorist on a train while vacationing in Europe, was released from the hospital following a violent stabbing in Sacramento.

In a written statement released by Stone, he thanked the first responders who saved his life and the larger community for its support.

“Thanks, also, to my amazing family and friends for their love and support,” he said. “And thanks to everyone who has sent encouragement during this challenging time. I’m focused now on healing and recovering and look forward to the next part of my journey.”

Stone was attacked by six assailants outside Sacramento nightclub Badlands after reportedly defending an unidentified woman from the assailants’ aggressive advances. Video footage obtained from the liquor store across the street showed Stone trading blows with the men before getting stabbed in the chest and limping off screen.

Police who arrived at the scene at first investigated the incident as a homicide because they did not believe Stone would recover from three stabs wounds. Thanks to the quick response time from paramedics and a surgery at UC Davis Medical Center, Stone pulled through.

Stone’s mother publicly thanked the hospital for saving her son’s life. “Our family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to the staff and providers at UC Davis Medical Center. I’m especially grateful to (trauma surgeons) Dr. Ellie Curtis, Dr. Garth Utter, the entire trauma team and the ICU nurses who treated Spencer so well. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from our family and friends, the Sacramento area, the Air Force and people around the world. Thank you all.”

Last August, Stone was injured with a box cutter while disarming a jihadist with an AK-47 on a Paris-bound train. He earned a Purple Heart for getting injured in the altercation as well as the Airman medal and French Legion of Honour.