A HOSTEL worker has told of the moment she helped to save a man who had been stabbed in Colchester.

Melissa McNaughton, 40, had to use a tea towel to stem his bleeding after she was confronted with a 21-year-old man suffering stab wounds.

He had been attacked outside the YMCA on Magdalen Street and stabbed in the back and arm.

Mrs McNaughton, who has been a part-time night support worker at the YMCA for less than two months, was alerted to the attack by tenant Liam Waters, who heard shouting outside his window.

Mrs McNaughton said: “I was in the kitchen at the time washing up cups, and two tenants left the building and then started banging on the door.

“They said, ‘he has been stabbed’, so I grabbed what I could – which was the tea towel I was holding – and the first-aid box.”

Outside, she found the victim lying on the ground with three stab wounds, one to his lower left back and two on his left arm.

She said: “One of the wounds on his arm looked really nasty.

“He was conscious, but once or twice we thought he might pass out.

“I have been on first-aid courses, and have had to administer first aid before, so I just went into auto-pilot.

“I’m really impressed with Liam. He kept the man calm and conscious. He was superb.”

The attack happened on Sunday at about 5.30am. The victim was taken to Colchester General Hospital and released yesterday.

Tracey Carter, 44, a resident of Magdalen Street, was shocked by the incident.

She said: “I heard a lot of noise and shouting. That woke me up.

“I came downstairs, and saw the lights flashing outside and a large police van and two police cars.

“I thought someone had had a car accident. I was very surprised to hear it was a stabbing.”

John Harding, housing manager at the hostel, praised his staff and tenant for their intervention.

He said: “They responded in absolutely the right way. I’m very proud of both of them. This is the most serious incident staff have been involved with here for years.”

Police are continuing to question a 24-year-old man and two teenagers, aged 16 and 18, all from Colchester, in connection with the stabbing. The attack is also being linked to four muggings – in Basildon, Colchester and Clacton – on Saturday night and early on Sunday. In each, case a gang of three threatened victims with knives, and a Ford Focus was used as the getaway car.