Stabbed teen escaped death by just inches (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Stabbed teen escaped death by just inches

9:38am Thursday 10th August 2006 in Chippenham By Katie Adams

TEENAGER Michael Patton has told how he was inches from death after being stabbed in Chippenham town centre.

The 17-year-old, of London Road, said he and his family are still in shock after the attack in Somerfield's car park on Friday night, which left him with severe back wounds.

The attack came out of the blue after an argument broke out between two groups of boys. Michael said: "I thought I had been punched at first, but my friends told me I had been stabbed. It all happened so fast.

"Afterwards, I just ran into the town centre where I found a police car, and it was after the police told me to sit down that I realised how dizzy I felt and what had actually happened to me."

Michael's mother Kim Patton said she and her husband Gary were still finding it hard to come to terms with nearly losing their son in a knife attack.

She said: "The consultant at the hospital told us that if the blade had been any longer than it was, then it would have pierced our son's internal organs and he might not be sitting here with us today.

"It was fortunate that it was only a pocketknife and not a longer blade. My husband and I were talking about it last night and we are both still really shocked. We aren't even angry at what has happened, we are just upset.

"I was horrified when I got the call from one of his friends to say what had happened. I was just told my son had been stabbed and I didn't know whether he was dead or alive, it was terrifying."

Michael, who is currently doing an apprenticeship in carpentry with his father, was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath after the incident, which took place at around 10pm.

The teenager was kept in overnight for treatment.

Michael, who said he does not normally go into town but rather invites friends round to his house, said this was the first time he had been into the town centre for months.

He said: "I'm doing okay now but I haven't yet been back into town. I will do soon as I just want to get back to normal, and get on with things, but I haven't been able to go to work because of my injuries so it has really affected my day to day life.

"I'm going on holiday in France soon with my family so it will be good to get away, although I wont be able to swim for a while because of my injuries and the stitches. The doctors don't want my wound to get infected."

Michael, who was surrounded by friends at the time of the attack, said they were all very shaken by what had happened. Chris Gourlay, 17, one of the group with him at the time said: "When it happened I was telling him he had been stabbed and he didn't believe me, it all happened so fast."

Inspector Neil Bagnall of Chippenham Police said: "Incidents of this nature are very rare in the town and I am very shocked by the ages of the persons involved in this instance."

A 14-year-old boy charged with causing grievous bodily harm will appear at Chippenham magistrate's court on September 13 to be committed for trial. The teenager is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old boy in Chippenham town centre on August 4.