James Bascoe-Smith, 16, was stabbed multiple times by a masked gang in Brixton and left for dead for 50 minutes. He had taken his mother's new bicycle for a test ride when he was ambushed. Emergency services performed roadside surgery, including manual heart massages and defibrillation, before his heart restarted.
The attack caused catastrophic bleeding and a severe hypoxic brain injury. Doctors warned his family he might remain in a vegetative state. Despite this, James spent 449 days in hospital and has since learned to walk, talk, and write his name again.
James, now 19, and his family have launched a campaign called 'Sit Up to Stand Up 2 Knife Violence' to raise awareness. They have also set up a GoFundMe to fund his ongoing treatment, which includes occupational and speech therapy.
In September, Leon Rashid, 20, and Taiquane Lewis, 18, were convicted of conspiracy to murder. The court heard that a Rambo-style knife, a combat knife, and a machete were used in the attack. Both men are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey.
