A former soldier has relived the moment he found a stabbing victim bleeding in the street and screaming for help.
Quick-thinking Matt Lees used his military training to calm the man and phoned the emergency services.
Last night, police were still hunting the blade-wielding attacker who left a 29-year-old with “serious facial injuries”.
The assault happened in Hill Street in the Rosemount area of Aberdeen.
Mr Lees was walking near the scene with his girlfriend Sharis Toy when he saw the victim stumbling down a lane just seconds after he was slashed.
The former trainee at the Motivational Preparation College for Training, who now works for Mears Care in Bridge of Don, had been getting ready for life in a heavy armoured personnel division in Wales before deciding to move north to pursue a career in care.
The 19-year-old said: “We were on our way to a barbecue when we found him, just walking out of the lane screaming ‘help me’ and ‘help I have been stabbed’.
“This was exactly 7.18pm as I had phoned both emergency services at 7:20pm.
“It was just himself alone coming out of the lane and I had to assess his injuries as I didn’t want to waste emergency services’ time, then when I could see how bad it was I phoned them straightaway.
“It was adrenaline-pumping, but coming from a background of military college, I have had to deal with situations as dangerous as this before.
“There was a cut starting no more than a millimetre from the left hand side of his mouth and finishing around about three centimetres (just over an inch) towards his ear.
“Judging by the damage caused I would say he was struck with a knife.
“If he wasn’t seen to at the time I’m sure he would have suffered either brain injury or death due to shock or blood loss.
“I was trying to calm his nerves down whilst he was trying to pace around.
“I hesitated twice to take my shirt off and place it over the injury but didn’t end up doing that as he walked off.
“Just being in many different situations over time I have learned to adapt to the situation in the best manner and I suppose being calm and responsible for the man was the best way to deal with it.”
The Hill Street area was cordoned-off for several hours on Sunday night while police investigated the incident.
The victim is understood to have been recovering in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary last night.
Police said they were following a positive line of inquiry.
Sergeant Mike Stobie, from the divisional alcohol violence reduction unit, said: “This was a contained, isolated incident which posed no threat to the wider public.
“Inquiries are ongoing and officers investigating are following several positive lines of inquiry.
“Anyone who was in the area at the time and who does have information about the incident should contact police.”
Rosemount and Midstocket councillor Bill Cormie said the incident was “unusual” for the area.
He said: “Residents will obviously be concerned, but it’s important to remember how rare these things are.”
North-east Conservative MSP Ross Thomson said: “This is a tremendous story of bravery and quick-thinking from a young man faced with what sounds like a horrific situation.
“His actions may well have saved this man’s life.
“However, people across the city will be shocked at the nature of this man’s injuries and I would urge anyone with information to contact police immediately.”