Boy slashed to neck and face and stabbed in leg in horror park gang attack

A vulnerable teen was slashed in the neck during a seemingly unprovoked park attack.

The 17-year-old victim was also stabbed in the leg after being held down by a group of up to eight thugs.

His family say he is lucky to be alive after the brutal assault, which happened on Friday.

The teen was targeted as he met a female friend, also 17, in Walton Hall Park, Liverpool, reports the Liverpool Echo.

His distraught mum said she was sickened, saying: "I could have lost him."

The gang began to shout at him before one attacker, armed with a blade, slashed him to his neck and also repeatedly to his face.

His several accomplices held the college student down, which led to the boy being stabbed up to five times in his leg.

The boy, who is autistic, was also kicked by the other louts, but eventually he managed to break free and run away.

A couple driving an Audi car were passing, saw the end of the ordeal, and bundled him into their car, and helped him to safety.

The boy was taken to his nearby home where he was greeted by his hugely-upset mum, and an ambulance and police were called.

He suffered knife slash wounds to his neck, face, ear, chest and back, along with five stab wounds to his leg and buttock area.

His nipple was also cut.

Today, his mum, 48, said: "I'm sickened to the stomach about what happened, I could have lost him.

"We know from other cases in Liverpool that just one knife wound can kill, they went for my boy's neck, I could have lost him.

"I've not slept properly since that happened."

The boy was taken to hospital and received stitches to some of his knife wounds and then returned home, which he has not left since the attack.

He is "extremely shaken up" by what happened, which was close to a youth centre.

The mum-of-two said she overheard her son telling his gran on the phone: "The reason I was running was to come and say my last goodbye to my mum before I died."

Detectives have visited the boy's family, and taken a statement from his mum, and have also taken a statement from the 17-year-old girl who witnessed the knife attack.

The blade involved is thought to be a small carpet or Stanley knife.

The boy had never seen the gang before, who also tried to chase after him when he broke free as he was seriously hurt.

Nothing was stolen from him, even though he had a mobile phone in his pocket, and early indications appear to point to a random and indiscriminate assault of a young stranger.

The mum added: "The ambulance came straight away and eight paramedics treated his wounds.

"At hospital, I wasn't allowed inside.

"The nurses were fabulous with him.

"He's now in a lot of pain and upset and doesn't know why this happened to him.

"He's not allowed out the house now, we fear reprisals.

"I'd like to thank the couple in the car, if it wasn't for them, who know what might have happened."

The boy, who had celebrated his birthday two days earlier, had been isolating for about seven weeks prior to the attack, and this was first time he had left the house.

The people responsible are said to be teenagers who are possibly older, or in their early 20s.

Merseyside Police is investigating the attack which happened at about 5.30pm, three days ago, on Friday.