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UPDATE: Knuckles returned display outside Ladysmith Community Health Centre

Knuckles was stolen between 11:00am - 12:00pm on July 1
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Knuckles was stolen between 11:00am - 12:00pm from the Sonic display outside the Ladysmith Community Health Centre (Submitted photo)

Update: Sometime during the night time hours between July 2, and July 3, Knuckles was returned to the LCHC display.

“We don’t know, don’t care how he returned or what he got up to while he was out and about,” LCHC Nurse Louise Gilfoy said. “We are just happy he’s back.”

Original story follows below:

Knuckles, a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, was stolen from a display outside the Ladysmith Community Health Centre between 11:00am - 12:00pm on July 1.

“This display is extremely special to us and our community. This is so disappointing and sad,” Louise Gilfoy, a nurse at the LCHC said in a Facebook post.

Jackie Bates, her brother Ricky Bates, and her fiance Mark Turner made the Sonic display that thanks Ladysmith’s health care heroes. It took the trio two weeks worth of work to create and set up the display.

RELATED: Defying the odds, Jackie Bates raises funds for double lung transplant

Jackie Bates suffers from cystic fibrosis, and knows many of the nurses at the LCHC. Bates said she was inspired to make the display because of her close relationship with the LCHC nurses.

“We thought it would be awesome to support the nurses here and made the Sonic display.”

When they saw that Knuckles had been stolen, it was disheartening.

“We’re pretty upset. We saw a lot of posts of kids in the community really loving to visit the characters on walks,” Bates said.

“Mark worked the hardest on Knuckles. He’s pretty disheartened. I can’t believe Knuckles was actually taken. We’re all shocked it got stolen in the middle of the day.”

Turner created an original design of Knuckles holding an x-ray over his chest that displays his skeleton, and a red heart. Although only Knuckles was stolen, it appears the thief tried to steal the display of Dr. Robotnik as well. Bates fears the thief will return and attempt to steal Dr. Robotnik.

A report has been filed with the RCMP. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Knuckles is encouraged to contact the RCMP.

“We hope that Knuckles can be returned,” Bates said. “We’re happy they lasted so long. It sucks it got stolen on Canada Day.”

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Knuckles has been returned to the LCHC display (Submitted photo)