A TEENAGER was stabbed as he tried to stop a gang from stealing his friend’s bike.

Lucas Perry, 16, was stabbed at around 4.50pm on Friday after a group of teenagers approached him and his friends in Knightswick Road.

One of the group demanded Lucas’ friend hand over his bike, and when he refused, drew a knife and threatened to stab him.

Lucas intervened, trying to push the teenager away and was stabbed in the process.

He and his friends fled the scene, with Lucas realising the wound was serious, and phoned the ambulance himself.

After being helped by members of the public, Lucas, who lives on Canvey, was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Jodie Perry, 24, Lucas’ sister, said the stab wound had gone through his liver and stomach.

She said: “I think it was pure adrenaline that the kids just saw the knife and ran, Lucas didn’t realise how bad it was until he’d gotten further away.

“He phoned the ambulance himself, and that’s when people who saw him realised it was pretty serious.

“Staff from the Rio Coffee House and The Oysterfleet Hotel came out to help him before the ambulance arrived. They were all fantastic.

“Lucas had to have an operation over the weekend, but he’s doing ok, he should be completely fine.

“We hope those who did it can be found. It’s just horrible that there are people walking around willing to do that.”

A 17-year-old boy from Tilbury and a 14-year-old boy from Basildon have been arrested on suspicion of committing grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident.

They have been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We are investigating after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed at around 4.50pm on Friday following a verbal altercation between a group of teenage boys on Knightswick Road.

“We are treating this as an isolated incident and do not believe there is any risk to members of the public however extra officer patrols have been put in place in the area to reassure the community.

“Detectives would still like to speak to anyone who was in the Knightswick Road area around this time and either witnessed or has any information about the incident."

Call 101 quoting crime reference 42/115015/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.