Man stabbed in Gants Hill was ‘trying to protect his bike’

After the attack he staggered past about five shops in Cranbrook Road, Gants Hill, before finally sitting down on a bench where he drifted in and out of consciousness.

It is believed he was stabbed when a fight broke out at about 7.20pm on Sunday.

A tanning salon receptionist said she became aware of the fight after a man standing outside grabbed his child and ran into the shop.

Carol Marshall, 59, said: “I saw a scuffle on the kerb with about six of them. I shouted at them to stop fighting and then they all got up and dispersed in different directions.”

She then saw the man who had been stabbed walk away from the shop and peel off his blood-stained shirt.

“There was blood running down his back and he had cuts on his face, it was horrible,” she said. “He was shouting, ‘I’ll get you’, and then shouted out in pain.”

The man tried to walk down the street but instead collapsed on a bench on the pavement near Gants Hill roundabout.

A witness who asked to be known as Peter said: “The boy was trying to go into the cab office but he staggered so I ran across the road and sat him down on the seat.”

Peter said he tied the man’s shirt around the wound to try and stem the bleeding while telling his son to call the police and ambulance crews. “He said he was protecting his bike but he was not very conscious,” said Peter. “I tried to keep him talking to me. If it was one of my children I would like someone else to run across and help them.”

Police are looking for a black man approximately 20 years old, 6ft and slim, who was wearing jogging bottoms. A slim mixed race man aged 18-20 is also wanted.

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 2727, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.