A thug stabbed his former school friend in the heart in a failed murder bid.
Ciaran Sharkey, 24, lashed out at Ben Docherty outside his home in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, on February 23 2022.
Electrician Sharkey, of the city's Cathcart, had shouted at Mr Docherty who believed a fight was going to break out.
The victim then felt a warm sensation on his body before he was rushed to hospital by a neighbour.
The speed of his attendance and immediate surgery to heal the punctured heart saved Mr Docherty's life.
Sharkey pled guilty today/yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow to attempted murder.
The court heard Mr Docherty arrived home from work where he was confronted by Sharkey who had exited his blue Audi car.
Sharkey "shouted at him" with the victim getting the impression "there was going to be a fight."
Mr Docherty's partner Demi Lee Wood saw him grappling with Sharkey but did not witness punches thrown.
Sharkey momentarily put his dropped jacket in the car.
The victim told Miss Wood: "He wants to box with me."
She then went to fetch neighbour Gary Morrison as Mr Docherty approached Sharkey.
Mr Docherty heard a knife clicking but did not see a weapon.
Prosecutor Michelle Brannigan said: "His next recollection is the warm sensation of blood on his clothing in the area of his chest."
Another witness spotted Sharkey throwing punches at Mr Docherty before he fled the scene in the Audi.
Mr Docherty was noted to hold his chest and an electricity box as if his legs were buckling.
Miss Wood meantime returned to the scene to see her partner's body "covered in blood."
Mr Docherty told her: "He's just f***ing stabbed me, I need to go to hospital."
Mr Morrison drove the victim to the hospital where he lost consciousness shortly before arrival.
Two paramedics took him in for emergency surgery as his heart had stopped for a brief time.
Miss Brannigan said: "A puncture wound to his heart was seen and repaired.
"He had also sustained stab wounds to his left hand and chest area.
"He was intubated and sedated - he remained in a serious condition and for 24 hours he was placed on an incubator."
Doctor Susan Daisley stated that Mr Docherty was critically ill on his arrival.
It was her opinion that "if he had not arrived so quickly and had three senior registrars in surgery not been present at the time, it is most likely that he would not have survived."
The operation Mr Docherty underwent "is only ever performed in life saving situations."
Police were unable to trace Sharkey who handed himself in to officers almost two months later.
Jim Keegan KC, defending, told the court: "Mr Sharkey himself is shocked by his own behaviour.
"More than that, he is shocked by the victim impact statement which is graphic in terms of pictures.
"These things are helpful for people to realise what they have done and it has done that.
"He was at school with the victim and both worked for the same company - they fell out over a piffling incident and there has been animosity since."
It was revealed Sharkey has a previous conviction for an assault to injury and permanent disfigurement.
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Dundee before Judge Lady Drummond.
She said: "This was a brutal and violent attack which has left the victim profoundly impacted."
Sharkey's remand in custody was continued meantime.
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