An emotional resident who tried to save Ricky Wyatt has spoken of his anguish at watching him die.

Tony Ashton, 32, from Little Lullaway, Laindon, was at his kitchen window when he spotted a commotion outside.

Along with neighbours, Mr Ashton saw the last moments of Ricky Wyatt's life, which was brutally cut short on Friday evening.

He and others ran to Mr Wyatt's assistance after hearing screams and seeing him stagger across the road after being stabbed.

Choking back tears, Mr Ashton said: "Someone called the ambulance. Over the phone they asked my friend Lisa to resuscitate him.

"He died while she was trying to stop the blood. She was looking for a pulse on his neck, he breathed out, she put her hand on his chest and it stopped there and then. He didn't die at the hospital - I watched him die."

Mr Ashton said they waited at least 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.

He added: "They kept asking questions on the phone. I lost my temper. A friend of mine who I live with knew him.

"Lisa is absolutely devastated. She can't talk. It's devastated us all in the area. Every time I close my eyes I can see his face. He was a grey-green colour. The amount of blood - it was horrible.

"I saw him through the window - there was an argument - I turned away from the kitchen window and then I heard him cry out.

"His ex-girlfriend and his little boy have been to lay flowers and a teddy outside. The boy's only five - it's heartbreaking.

"Lisa, me and the others were with him - his eyes were open and he knew we were there with him. But we're so shaken up now - we all need counselling - we just can't get over it."

An ambulance spokesman said: "Crews were on the scene within seven minutes of the call and the patient was at Basildon Hospital within 32 mins.

"Crews worked on the patient because they felt there was a chance of saving his life, despite his very serious injuries.

"The clinical assessors who take the calls will ask for as much information on the patient as possible so this can be passed to crews while en-route to the incident. They are also fully capable of providing life-saving advice to the caller if it is appropriate."