A shop worker has spoken of the moment he thought he was going to die after he was slashed with a broken bottle as he tried to be a Good Samaritan.

The father-oftwo spoke on the basis of anonymity after needing nine stitches to his face (pictured) after being attacked in August and said he was ‘lucky’ to be alive. “I was bleeding for one and half hours I actually thought my life was over.”

He said: “I phoned my mum I was not sure I would make it. The way the blood was dripping it was like water from tap. In my head I thought I was going to go …I was just panicking. My jeans and trainers were soaking wet with blood.“ The incident which was filmed by bystanders and has been seen by The Chronicle shows the victim who was leaving work trying to calm down a dispute on Cotford Parade.

He had intervened in a ‘silly’ argument between neighbouring shopkeepers and managed to defuse the situation leading away one of the men who went home.

But when he returned he found the remaining shopkeeper was being attacked by a topless man with dreadlocks who had knocked him to the floor sustaining bruising to his face.

As he tried to calm down the situation the man turned on him and began being aggressive.

The victim, who has studied the Martial Art of Jitsu, tried to back away and can be heard saying ‘calm down’ but is pursued by the man and others as a large crowd gathers and the altercation spills out on the road into traffic opposite the Clocktower.

A second man appears and thrusts a broken bottle towards the victim’s back but it misses and then stikes again hitting him in the face.

He said what had been most hurtful and disappointing is that neighbouring shop workers hadn’t come to his aid. He said: “I was lucky. He could have killed me.”

“I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time but I was just trying to help. I felt as though the whole world was against me. Everyone just stood there. That’s what hurts the most.”

Worst still he has lost his job of 15 years as his employer is scared of retribution and his phone was also lost during the assault.

He praised ambulance staff and said that a paramedic who despite finishing her shift stayed with him and stitched his wound in A&E: “Was amazing. I just want to meet her again to say ‘thank you’.”

He added: “I am happy to be alive. I have learned my lesson and I am not going to help anyone else anymore.

“It hurts me as I have a brave heart but right now taking someone’s side could cost your life. I a very disappointed with my own people …they should at least have had my back.”  A 53-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the attack and a previous incident outside Poundland in April.