A 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Woolwich, south-east London, pleaded with a witness not to let him die as she tried to save his life. The woman, who does not wish to be named, told the PA news agency that the teenager's final words to her were: 'I'm 15, don't let me die'.
The witness, 43, said she was in her bedroom on Sunday evening when she heard someone shout that a stabbing had occurred. She grabbed a sheet and ran outside to find the boy face down on the road with a cut on his head and a 'massive pool of blood' by his leg. She stemmed the bleeding until paramedics arrived.
Police were called to Eglinton Road at around 6.30pm following reports of a disturbance. The teenager was found with a stab injury and died shortly after. A police cordon and tent remained in place on Monday morning, with officers wearing helmets and carrying shields. No arrests have been made.
The witness described the boy as 'the most polite boy' she had encountered in the neighbourhood. A neighbour whose son was friends with the victim expressed concern about gang violence, saying: 'It just fills you with worry as a parent, he's a black kid, he's about that age – trying to keep him away from gangs.'
A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'The mayor's thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenage boy who has been killed in Woolwich, as well as the wider community. This heart-breaking violence has no place in our streets.' The boy's next of kin have been informed. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference CAD 5989/22Sep.
