‘If I make it, I’ll buy you a drink’ vows stab victim

Published: 28 May 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

A STABBING victim told pub customers who rushed to his aid after an ambush last week: “If I make it, I’m coming back to buy everyone a drink”.

The man and his friend who was also stabbed as they crossed the road in Canonbury are both recovering in hospital from the Friday evening attack.

Dee Canning, land­lady of the Myddleton Arms, Canonbury Villas, has told how customers rushed to the aid of the man after he staggered into her pub for help.

Peaceful Friday evening drinks were disturbed when the 18-year-old man stumbled into the pub, clutching his stomach.

Bar staff and customers scrambled to help, grabbing towels to stop the bleeding.

But they didn’t know his friend was outside and had also been stabbed.

Mrs Canning said her 10-year-old son, who was playing in the park, saw a group of youths on bikes attack two men as they crossed the road outside the pub.

She said: “My son thought they were just fighting. One of them made his way in here. There was blood everywhere. He’d been stabbed. We didn’t realise the other guy had been stabbed too. The customers helped. They got towels and were holding the wounds but they didn’t realise he’d been stabbed in the back. The ambulance were very quick to respond. His final words as he left here were: ‘If I make it, I’m coming back to buy everyone a drink’.” 

She added: “The poor children were playing in the park when it happened. I couldn’t believe it. You hear about these things but when it’s on your own doorstep it’s very frightening. This is a lovely friendly family pub, no hassle, no ­trouble, no fights.”

An Islington police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at approximately 7.15pm to reports of a male suffering stab injuries in Canonbury Grove. A short while later, officers were alerted to a second male in nearby Canonbury Road also suffering stab injuries. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and ­discovered two males – both believed to be aged in their late teens/early 20s – suffering stab wounds. Both were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries. Neither victim’s injuries are believed to be life threatening. Officers from Islington CID are investigating.”