A dad-of-two has told of how the incidents leading to him being stabbed unfolded as he put his life in danger to save others as a man with a knife roamed Falconwood.

Lawrence Winter was repeatedly slashed in Lingfield Crescent on June 25, leaving him with deep cuts, in need of stitches, and permanent scarring. 

The 36-year-old told the News Shopper how a "pleasant" evening celebrating his father-in-law’s birthday at the Falcon Harvester took a turn for the worse. 

News Shopper: Photos of Lawrence's injuries Photos of Lawrence's injuries

Lawrence saw a man in the beer garden of the restaurant approaching people and asking them to call the police.

And, as Lawrence saw that the man had a knife, he decided to warn others of what was going on.

Lawrence explained: “I noticed a man going up to people and bothering them. 

"He was trying to give his phone to people and was repeatedly asking them to call the police.

“I knew that something was off with the situation.

“At the man’s request, the manager of the restaurant we were in rang the police and tried to explain to the man that the police had now been called.

“He just went crazy after that.

“We didn’t even understand why he wanted to call the police in the first place."

News Shopper: Photos of Lawrence's injuries Photos of Lawrence's injuries

Lawrence then decided to send his wife, Kylie, and two kids, Jude, 12, and Iris, five, home as he was trying to assess the situation.  

He said the attacker then walked out of the restaurant and then rushed over to a group of boys on the street while swinging a knife towards them.

Lawrence explained: “I saw he was heading over to a group of boys, and I shouted to warn them. 

“Luckily the boys then ran off without any harm.  

“However, I then saw he was walking towards Falconwood station, and he then approached a woman and two kids. 

“I was repeatedly shouting ‘put the knife down’ to divert his attention. 

“The woman then pushed the two kids into what seemed like a bush and hid behind a car herself. 

“I then confronted him, so he would divert his attention to me rather than the family." 

Lawrence said the attacker then ran and stood on a pickup truck shouting at people in the street.

He lost his balance and fell and Lawrence then recalls jumping on top of him and trying to recover the knife.  

Lawrence explained: “I tried to hold him down and restrain him so he didn’t attack anyone else. 

“At first, I didn't know I had been stabbed but as I looked down I saw heavy bleeding. 

“Two men who were driving past in a van rushed over and I asked if they could hold him until the police came."

A spokesperson for the Met Police says it responded with ambulance crews to reports of a man with a knife and another man stabbed at around 4.55pm.

Lawrence was stabbed in the right leg of his inner thigh, the outside of his left leg, and the front of his lower leg. 

He was taken to St Thomas' Hospital and underwent surgery for his injuries but was released after five days and is currently recovering at home.

Lawrence said that he now feels anxious about the safety of his son going out to play at the park.  

Lawrence explained: “I’m more worried about my wife and kids than myself, to be honest. 

“As my wife uses the bus on the same road the incident happened, and my son is now at an age where he can go to the park with his friends. 

“But looking back at it, I’d still do the same.  

“It was just an instinct within me that I knew I had to do something 

“If I didn’t, someone else could have seriously got hurt.”  

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH in connection with this incident.

The man who was arrested was also taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.

He remains in hospital.

Police enquiries into the circumstances continue.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 16:55hrs on Saturday, 25 June to reports of a man in possession of a knife and a man stabbed in Lingfield Crescent, SE9.

"Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. 

“One man, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital for treatment to a stab injury – he has been discharged following treatment. 

"A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH – he was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment where he remains. 

"Enquiries into the circumstances continue."

You can also donate to Lawrence's JustGiving page here. 

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