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Gumtree buyer stabbed in heart | Gumtree buyer stabbed in heart |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Open heart surgery was needed to save a man stabbed in east London after going to buy a car from someone he contacted through the website Gumtree. | Open heart surgery was needed to save a man stabbed in east London after going to buy a car from someone he contacted through the website Gumtree. |
The victim, 42, went to Barking to buy a VW Golf advertised on the site. | The victim, 42, went to Barking to buy a VW Golf advertised on the site. |
But he was ambushed, then beaten, kicked and stabbed in the heart, lungs and abdomen, before the £5,000 he was to pay with was stolen. | But he was ambushed, then beaten, kicked and stabbed in the heart, lungs and abdomen, before the £5,000 he was to pay with was stolen. |
The car's true owner was unaware it had been offered for sale. Two men have been arrested by police and given bail. | The car's true owner was unaware it had been offered for sale. Two men have been arrested by police and given bail. |
The incident happened on 30 July, but details have just been released by police who are desperate to find more witnesses. | The incident happened on 30 July, but details have just been released by police who are desperate to find more witnesses. |
Describing what happened, Det Ch Insp Ellie O'Connor of Barking CID said: "It was broad daylight and a busy area so the gentleman thought he would be safe. | Describing what happened, Det Ch Insp Ellie O'Connor of Barking CID said: "It was broad daylight and a busy area so the gentleman thought he would be safe. |
These men were not messing about and it is but for the skill of the emergency services that he survived Det Ch Insp O'Connor | These men were not messing about and it is but for the skill of the emergency services that he survived Det Ch Insp O'Connor |
"He could not see the car, so he put in a call to the seller. | "He could not see the car, so he put in a call to the seller. |
"Then he was ambushed from behind and knocked to the floor where he was beaten, kicked and stabbed four times." | "Then he was ambushed from behind and knocked to the floor where he was beaten, kicked and stabbed four times." |
Det Ch Insp O'Connor continued: "Thanks to the intervention of a member of the public they ran off. | Det Ch Insp O'Connor continued: "Thanks to the intervention of a member of the public they ran off. |
"The passer-by then gave first aid until the air ambulance arrived." | "The passer-by then gave first aid until the air ambulance arrived." |
The victim, from north London, suffered an injury to his heart's pericardial sac and a collapsed lung, among other injuries. | |
'Safety taken seriously' | 'Safety taken seriously' |
Although expected to recover, he is still too traumatised to discuss the incident, which police described as a "life-changing experience". | Although expected to recover, he is still too traumatised to discuss the incident, which police described as a "life-changing experience". |
Det Ch Insp O'Connor added: "These men were not messing about and it is but for the skill of the emergency services that he survived. | Det Ch Insp O'Connor added: "These men were not messing about and it is but for the skill of the emergency services that he survived. |
"He will take two months to recover." | "He will take two months to recover." |
A Gumtree spokeswoman said: "We take safety very seriously and regret that one of our users has been a victim of crime. | A Gumtree spokeswoman said: "We take safety very seriously and regret that one of our users has been a victim of crime. |
"We work with law enforcement officers to keep the site safe and are helping police with this investigation." | "We work with law enforcement officers to keep the site safe and are helping police with this investigation." |
She added: "We strongly recommend that users meet in daylight, in a public place and take a friend." | She added: "We strongly recommend that users meet in daylight, in a public place and take a friend." |
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