A distraught neighbour has told how she tried to make a tourniquet to save the life of a fifteen-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in south-east London on Sunday night.
Police scrambled to Eglinton Road, Woolwich around 6.35pm on Sunday where the youngster, 15, was found with a stab injury. He died at the scene.
A neighbour told the Standard how she had attempted to stem the bleeding by using a bed sheet, and comforted the teen as he said: “I’m 15, don’t let me die.”
The 43-year-old woman said that she was in her bedroom when a person across the road screamed “someone’s been stabbed, someone’s been stabbed”.
She said that she grabbed a sheet and ran outside without shoes and socks, finding the boy face down on the floor.
The boy had a gash on his head and a “massive pool of blood” by his leg, the witness said.
She said that she stemmed the flow of blood until paramedics arrived.
The witness went on: “I asked if I could go and shower because I was covered in his blood, and they said ‘yes’ so I went in and showered.
“I come back out and they (the police) called me over because I was the last one with him – he was going to me ‘I’m 15, I’m 15, don’t let me die’ and I said to him ‘you’re not going to die, mate’.”
The mother said: “I saw a gash on his head but the main problem was an artery in his leg. I have done first aid training and watch ambulance shows so I did what I could. I tied bedclothes round his leg. I talked to him and said ‘don’t worry you are loved’.
“I just tried to keep him alive. I was his only hope at that stage. Then the paramedics came.”
SD Wines shop owner Siva Kailayabillai, 46, said: “My customers heard strand for help. The boy was on the ground he was in a bad way. Everyone was really upset. The air ambulance was hovering above, it was a terrible scene.”
A resident said she had seen the boy “larking around” a week earlier and making TikTok videos yards from where he was killed.
She said: ”He was having fun and filming dancing on TikTok videos. It was kids’ stuff. He looked so young and they were laughing like children. He was so young and to meet this end just days later is heartbreaking.”
A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: “The mayor’s thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenage boy who has been killed in Woolwich, as well as the wider community.
“This heart-breaking violence has no place in our streets.
“The mayor is in close contact with police leaders and there will be increased patrols in the local area.”
Police said the murder is a “stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives”.
It comes ahead of a ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes set to come into force on Tuesday.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, speaking outside Plumstead Police Station on Monday afternoon, said: “Once again, we’ve had to tell a child’s family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using knives. Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.
“The fact a 15-year-old teenager who had his whole life ahead of him has been taken from his family in this way is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives.
“We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off the streets.
“We know that this murder will send shockwaves throughout the community, and I understand the genuine concern this will create, we share those concerns.”
No arrests have been made, the Metropolitan Police said. The boy’s next of kin has been informed and a crime scene remains in place.
A spokesman added: “Police were called approximately 6.35pm on Sunday, September 22 to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road, SE18.
“Officers attended and found a teenage boy with a stab injury.
“Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics at the scene, he sadly died a short time later.
“His next of kin have been informed
“A crime scene remains in place.
“There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101, quoting reference CAD 5989/22Sep.
