A paramedic "heard a commotion" while at a party before finding a stabbed grandma dying in the street and saving her life.
Kenneth Reid has been recommended for a reward by a judge after his heroic actions in rushing to the aid of Carmel Ratcliffe, who was knifed in the street by her daughter's ex. Michael Moon's attack was so severe that her arm was partially-amputated as a result, although doctors were later able to save the limb during emergency surgery.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that the 39-year-old drove to his 67-year-old victim's home shortly after 9pm on June 4 this year after consuming nearly two litres of vodka and more than half a gram of cocaine. He spotted Ms Ratcliffe walking along Tabley Avenue in Widnes, honked his horn and pulled up next to her, briefly spoke to her out of the car window but got out of the vehicle armed with a large 13in kitchen knife with an 8in blade.
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Moon then stabbed her eight times to the head and upper body, and knifed her a further 14 times after she fell to the floor. The knifeman - of Cherry Sutton in Hough Green - "backed off" after neighbours ran to her aid but threw the weapon at the pensioner from a distance of 4ft, causing it to became lodged under her shoulder blade.
Ms Ratcliffe began crawling away in a desperate attempt to escape, but he told her he would "run her over" and mounted the curb as he drove away and veered towards her. Miraculously, she was able to avoid being run over by rolling into bushes.
Mr Reid, her neighbour and a recently retired paramedic with 29 years of experience, had been at a party and "heard a commotion" before discovering the gravely injured woman in the street. He instinctively sprung into action and administered life-saving first aid at the roadside alongside Ms Ratcliffe's husband Alan.
The ex-emergency services worker later said he had seen "many people" who had been stabbed during his career, but "not one sustained as many as Carmel did that day". Ian Harris, prosecuting, told the court: "His actions undoubtedly saved her life."
He described how blood was left running down the pavement into the gutter after the attack, while Ms Ratcliffe was white in colour, confused, looked to be in shock and had a faint pulse as she was rushed to Aintree Hospital. She remained there for 11 days before being discharged, but will still require up to five years of treatment.
Doctors believe she would have died within an hour if not for the intervention of specialists. Ms Ratcliffe suffered stab wounds to her forearm, shoulder, cheek and the back of her head as well as a skull fracture.
The nan will likely have permanent scars from the assault. She cannot blink and has to tape one of her eyes shut while sleeping and is unable to wash herself or brush her teeth without assistance from family members, and may not be able to return to her job as a housekeeper.
Moon's unprovoked attack was sparked by his belief that Ms Ratcliffe was to blame for the breakdown of his relationship with her daughter Leanne Finnegan and subsequent child contact issues. He admitted attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place and was jailed for 22 years.
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