A WOMAN told a court she rushed to the rescue of a young man who was subjected to a “frenzied” stabbing outside her house.

Kaz Salih, 20, was left with puncture wounds in his back, arms and legs after being attacked in broad daylight.

Samantha McDonald watched out of her window in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, as three men, who were armed with a bread knife, weaved in and out of traffic chasing him.

Salih was taken to the Royal London Hospital to receive treatment for lifethreatening injuries to his lung, which caused fluid to build up in his chest cavity.

Eric Cantona Brophy, 18, of St Mary’s Road, Southend, Connor Freeman, 18, of Southchurch Boulevard, Southend, and another who could not be named for legal reasons, are accused of carrying out the revenge attack after Salih confronted them over the theft of mobile phones and a bag from a group of teenagers aged between 14 and 16.

A jury of eight men and four women at Basildon Crown Court heard on Tuesday Mrs McDonald, a trained first-aider, later picked out the defendants in an identity parade.

Talking about the attack, which took place 50 yards from her house, she said: “As they got to the zebra crossing, the boy went down.

“A car moved and I saw all three jump on him, punching, kicking and stamping on his head and neck. It was pretty frenzied. I came away from the window after 30 or 40 seconds, but it seemed like a lot longer.

“I got ready to go out of the front door because he needed help, and phoned police straight away.

“When I got to the zebra crossing he was complaining he couldn’t breathe so I got down on the floor and put him across my lap, which seemed to help a bit.

There was quite a lot of blood.”

Brophy admits malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but denies attempted murder.

His co-defendants deny any involvement in the attack, which took place at about 7pm on July 11.

The trial continues.