The young Wexford man attacked in Perth last week has died in hospital as a result of his stab wounds.

The Irish Times reports that Kenny Meyler died in the early hours of Sunday morning with his mother at his bedside.

The 21-year-old had been critically ill after he was stabbed in the neck with a large carving knife.

Vincent Martin Crowe has been charged with the attack as police upgrade their investigation to murder status.

A spokesperson at the Sir Charles Gairdner hospital confirmed to the Irish Times that the young Wexford man died shortly after midnight local time.

The paper reports that Meyler’s mother and two other relatives had arrived in Perth last Tuesday when they were met by a family friend and police, who took them to the hospital.

The report adds that Crowe, with an address in the Perth suburb of Atwell, made a brief appearance in the Perth magistrates court last Monday.

He was charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm but was not required to plead to the charge and was remanded to appear in court again later this month.

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs had been providing consular assistance to the Meyler family.

Reports also say that Meyler, a keen boxing enthusiast, planned to return home to Wexford in the coming months after his stint in Australia.

The Irish Times also reports that crime statistics show assaults in Scarborough have increased every year since 2010 with 136 assaults reported in Scarborough last year.

Residents told a community forum last October that they are too scared to go to the beach on hot days because of the fear they would be assaulted.