A MAN who was stabbed in chest in the middle of Westcliff refused to be taken to hospital by paramedics.

The 40-year-old was attacked by two men, who police believe he knew, in London Road near the junction of Valkyrie Road, at about 9pm on Monday.

Danny White, who lives in Westcliff, saw the aftermath of the attack.

He said: “Me and my friends drove past and saw the man on the floor.

“There were about three or four police cars and lots of officers crowding around. It didn’t look good.”

However, the wound was superficial so an ambulance was not called until an hour later.

Katy Poel, a spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “We got the call at 10pm and sent an ambulance to the scene.

“It was there for four minutes but did not convey anyone to hospital.”

The man refused to get into an ambulance and wandered off. But he later took himself to Southend Hospital for treatment.

He was then transferred to Basildon Hospital for treatment and was expected to be discharged last night.

Nicola Bastendorff, a spokeswoman for Essex Police, said: “A man was found to have a stab wound to his chest believed to be caused by two black men known to him.”

Anyone with information should call police at Southend on 0300 3334444.