A MAN has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in a fight outside a pub.

Police are appealing for information after the man was stabbed outside the Travellers Joy pub, Downhall Road, Rayleigh.

The victim, aged in his twenties, suffered injuries to his back and leg following an argument outside the venue. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

It is understood the man was stabbed with a flick knife in an unprovoked attack.

One witness, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “There was major bleeding from the victim of the incident and I was the one who applied a tourniquet to try and stop him losing too much blood.

“It was my round so I was at the bar when someone came into the pub.

“They started shouting ‘It’s urgent, quick someone call an ambulance’ so I came running out in response to that.

“There were a dozen people stood around him including someone who said they were a nurse and I put the tourniquet on him.

“I praise the NHS. The ambulances were there within a few minutes and then the police came and cordoned everything off after that.”

The partner of the victim took to Facebook to thank those who helped.

She said: “It was a completely unprovoked attack by somebody who was supposed to be a friend of my partner.

“Police are involved and have the attacker’s details. Thank you to everybody who was there to help us.

“The staff at the pub could not have been more helpful on Friday night.

“He is very appreciative for everything that was done to help. Everybody involved could not have done any more for him, so thank you.

“And a special thank you to Danielle who handled the situation like a champ. Not an inch of panic ran through her the whole time, she was excellent and is a credit to the team.”

The man, who will remain anonymous, was taken in for emergency surgery at Southend Hospital and is now understood to be in a stable condition.

It happened at around 5.20pm on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/84154/18 or independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.