Shrewsbury stab victim lucky to live, says mother

A man who was stabbed outside a Shropshire nightclub remains in intensive care today - as his mother revealed he was lucky to be alive.

Luke Rawlings was attacked by three men in Shrewsbury's Mardol on Sunday night. He was stabbed in the street outside Topcats bar while on a night out with a friend.

His family said today they had been shocked by what had happened.

His mother Lynn, of Armdale, off Robertson Way, where Luke, 22, also lives with his brother Shaun, 24, said medical staff told them Luke was very lucky the knife did not go through his heart.

She said: "He'd gone out with a friend and had only been out for a couple of hours. His half brother is the doorman at Topcats and he rang me to say 'get straight to the hospital'.

"The nurses there said it wasn't looking too good and was very serious.

"They had to stabilise him and give him several blood transfusions. He was stabbed right through his chest and has an abrasion on the edge of his heart. The nurses said he is one very lucky lad."

She said Luke, who works as a roofer in Scotland, had been in and out of consciousness since the incident.

Mr Rawlings was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and later transferred to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke.

Police today renewed appeals for witnesses to the incident.

Detective Inspector Sarah Wagstaff said: "An investigation is ongoing and there were a number of people in the area around the time of the incident who may have seen what happened. We would urge them to come forward and contact Shrewsbury CID on 0300 333 3000.

"We are also keen to speak to a lone male seen running away from the area at the time via Caernarfon Passage and across Hills Lane towards The Bellstone pub in Barker Street.

"He is described as white, of medium build and about 5ft 7in tall. He was wearing a blue or grey shirt and jeans."