Tragic final words of teenager, 15, stabbed to death during 'fight'

A teenage boy stabbed to death after a 'street fight' screamed, 'I'm 15, don't let me die' as he lay bleeding, a witness has revealed.

The schoolboy died at the scene after he was found with stab wounds on Eglinton Road, in Woolwich, at around 6.35pm on Sunday.

A 43-year-old woman, who has lived in the area for 14 years, has revealed how she desperately tried to save the teenager as he lay bleeding in the road outside her flat.

The witness, who heard screams of 'someone's been stabbed' coming from across the road, has told how she raced outside and discovered the boy laying face down on the floor. 

Speaking by the police cordon, she said: 'I turned him over, he had a gash in his head, and I thought 'that's not bleeding enough'.

'His leg moved and there was a massive pool of blood, so I just stemmed the flow of blood until the paramedics and that got here.

'I asked if I could go and shower because I was covered in his blood, and they said yes, so I went in and showered.

'I came back out and they [the police] called me over because I was the last one with him – he was going to me: 'I'm 15, I'm 15, don't let me die' and I said to him: 'You're not going to die, mate.'

She said the victim was 'the most polite boy' when she had encountered him around their neighbourhood.

Asked if she knew the victim well, she added: 'No, I didn't, but I always said hello and that, and he was always polite or moved out of the way when you were walking.'

A spokesperson for 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 mayor is in close contact with police leaders and there will be increased patrols in the local area.'

Police say the murder is a 'stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives'.

It comes ahead of a ban on owning zombie-style knives and machetes set to come into force on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, speaking outside Plumstead Police Station on Monday afternoon, confirmed the victim was aged 15.

He went on: 'Once again, we've had to tell a child's family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using knives. Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.

'The fact a 15-year-old teenager who had his whole life ahead of him has been taken from his family in this way is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives.

'We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off the streets.

'We know that this murder will send shockwaves throughout the community, and I understand the genuine concern this will create, we share those concerns.'

The boy's next of kin has been informed with a crime scene still in place.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: 'Police were called approximately 18:35hrs on Sunday, 22 September to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road, SE18.

'Officers attended and found a teenage boy with a stab injury. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics at the scene, he sadly died a short time later.

'His next of kin have been informed. A crime scene remains in place. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 5989/22Sep.