Polish stab victim ‘lucky to be alive’

A 21-YEAR-OLD man is “extremely lucky to be alive” after being stabbed just metres from his Kilkenny apartment, which he shares with his mother and sister.

Gardaí have arrested three local youths in connection with the attack, which happened in the city at about 9pm on Wednesday. The three — two men and a woman — are all aged in their early 20s and at least some of them live in the same apartment block as the victim.

Gardaí said the victim, from Poland, had an altercation with local youths on a stairwell at Lower New Street Apartments.

Detectives said the locals appeared to have been drinking that day and one of them, a male, pulled a knife and stabbed the Polish youth. The victim managed to struggle to his apartment and alert his mother and sister. They rang 999 and gardaí arrived almost immediately and took the victim straight to St Luke’s Hospital.

“He’s extremely lucky to be alive,” said a Garda source. “He’s not out of the woods yet, he’s still critical, but hopefully they will be able to repair the damage.”

The man underwent surgery on arrival at the hospital, where efforts were made to repair damage to his liver and a kidney.

It is understood he is expected to undergo further surgery to stop internal bleeding.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information in relation to the incident to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111 or any Garda station.