A 10-year-old boy shouted for his mother after witnessing a man being stabbed in broad daylight on the Woodchurch estate in Wirral. Merseyside Police responded to the incident on Hoole Road at approximately 3:40 PM on Thursday, June 25.
Victim and Arrest
The victim, a man in his 60s who uses a wheelchair and is unable to speak, suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and rib cage. Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was taken to hospital, where his condition is described as serious but stable. Police arrested a 40-year-old man from Noctorum on suspicion of Section 18 assault. He remains in police custody for questioning.
Witness Accounts
A mother, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO that her 10-year-old son saw the attack while sitting across the road with an ice lolly. “He started shouting, 'mum, mum, someone's been stabbed.' The victim can't walk or talk. He couldn't do anything; he was pointing and holding his wound,” she said. She described the victim as a popular local figure and believes the attack was “totally unprovoked.” She added, “Everyone loves him and his sons. Why would anyone do something like this, let alone to him? He's a good fella. No-one can understand it.”
According to the mother, the attacker fled toward the back of the shops after the stabbing, leaving “blood all over” the road. She emphasized that the area is normally a safe community where people look out for each other, and argued that any trouble stems from outsiders “coming to the Woodchurch.”
Community Reactions
Another resident, who has lived on The Meadow for decades and asked to be referred to as “Nanny Eye,” echoed the sentiment. “People let their children play out on the street. They wouldn't do that if it wasn't safe. I like hearing them play. I don't want Woodchurch to be painted in a bad light. There's Woodchurch Pride now, and they do a good job,” she said.
However, not all residents felt safe. One woman who saw the victim “bleeding from his arm” said her partner commented, “I don't feel safe here. You see groups of youths with masks on a lot. One time they blocked my car, and I couldn't get to work.” Another woman noted, “Until this happened, I would have said it's getting safer because there's loads more police around. But over the past five years we've had a stabbing, a shooting, and that crash with the scrambler bike.”
Police Investigation
Two police cordons remain in place: one on Hoole Road (which has since reopened) and another on a pedestrianised part of The Meadow, where the attack is believed to have occurred. Tarpaulin was placed over a wheelchair at the scene, later taken away on a recovery truck. Police vans and a dog unit were present.
Detective Inspector Andy Schofield said, “An investigation is underway after a man suffered a serious injury on Hoole Road as a result of the offender's actions, and is getting the care he needs in hospital. Although our officers have made a swift arrest just hours after the assault, we are appealing to anyone who was on Hoole Road at around 3:40 PM to get in touch with police. At the time of this incident, it would have been busy with people coming home from work or visiting shops in the area, so please contact us if you saw what happened.” He added, “Knife crime has no place on our streets, and it is vital that those responsible for carrying or using knives are found and brought to justice.”
Police urge anyone with information to contact Merseyside Police on X or Facebook quoting log 856 of 25 June, call 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
