Hibs fan saves stab victim's life

A GOOD Samaritan used his Hibs scarf to save the life of a young man who was stabbed after accidentally spilling another man’s drink in a city pub.

The 26-year-old suffered a punctured lung when he was stabbed three times moments after bumping into another man in a busy Leith pub. The victim’s life was saved after the passing Hibs fan stopped his car to offer his help.

The Good Samaritan used his purple Hibs away scarf to stem the flow of blood, before rushing the seriously ill victim to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s accident and emergency department.

Thanks to his quick action doctors were able to release the 26-year-old from hospital yesterday evening.

Police said they are keen to trace the Good Samaritan who may have vital information about the incident. The attack happened after the man, who lives in the Leith area, was in the Port O’ Leith bar in Constitution Street on Friday night when he bumped into another man, causing him to spill his drink.

Words were exchanged and the culprit challenged the victim to a fight, who refused.

The victim, who was with a friend, stayed in the bar a while longer before leaving just after midnight.

When he reached Maritime Lane at the junction of Constitution Street, the culprit suddenly appeared and punched the man in the face and a fight started.

However, the suspect fled when the motorist, who is believed to have been driving a Citreon Saxo or AX car, stopped to help the victim, who did not know he had been stabbed.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders police said: "This was a particularly vicious attack after what was an accidental incident in a pub.

"If the good Samaritan motorist had not stopped to help the stab victim he may well have died. It was only because he used a scarf to treat the stab wounds that he didn’t lose more blood.

"His actions probably saved the victim’s life, but he left after dropping him at the ERI and we would like to speak to him as he may have information about the assault. The only description for the car is that it is a Citroen Saxo or AX.

"We also know that there were several people in Constitution Street at the time of the assault and we would urge them to come forward."

A spokesman for the Port O’Leith Bar said he did not know anything about the incident but added police had been in touch with the bar owner.

The suspect is described as white, early 20s, 6ft tall, thin build with short black hair, shaven at the sides and a fringe at the front.

He was wearing dark jeans and a sweatshirt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leith CID on 0131-554 9350.

The latest incident comes just a week after three men were treated in hospital for serious injuries, including one man who suffered a fractured skull, after being beaten up by a gang of around ten youths as they walked through Leith Links.

The street fight, involving at least 15 people, broke out after another boy was attacked with a bottle and belt by the gang, understood to be from Tranent.

And two weeks ago, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the back and chest just yards from Portobello police station.

The teenager had to undergo surgery after he was attacked with a bottle and left with a six-inch gash in his back and gouged out a lump of flesh from his chest.

Doctors had to use 15 metal staples to join the wound in his back.

He also needed stitches in his chest, side and thigh to repair the injuries he received as the attacker repeatedly slashed at him with the bottle.