An Asian woman was forced to undergo brain surgery over the weekend after she and her son were dragged down the stairs of a New York City subway station in an attempted robbery.

The unidentified 58-year-old woman and her 23-year-old son were walking up the stairs of the Canal Street subway station just before 11:00 a.m. Saturday when they were attacked from behind, with one assailant reportedly grabbing the son’s backpack, according to the New York Daily News. The son then attempted to grab his mother as he fell, sending them both tumbling down the flight of stairs.