Ilford stabbing: Park warden finds 80-year-old grandfather knifed in neck

An 80-year-old grandfather was left fighting for life in hospital after being stabbed in the neck in an east London park.

He was discovered lying in thick undergrowth by a warden who was litter-picking in South Park in Ilford at 10am yesterday.

Neighbours said the stabbing took place yards from South Park primary school’s nursery, which earlier in the morning had been busy with parents arriving with children.

Tony Hoad, secretary of the South Park Users Group, was alerted to the stabbing when the park-keeper knocked on his door for help.

Mr Hoad called the emergency services and then made his way to the scene. He said: “I’ve lived here 40 years. It’s a very unusual thing to happen in our park. Normally it is a very secure and safe place.”

A mother of two who lives opposite the park entrance said she had walked her children to school past the scene minutes before the stabbing.

The 35-year-old added: “It’s terrifying and tragic in equal measure. Lots of mothers use that park for the school run.

"It’s shocking and could have happened in front of kids, it’s so open. I’m not letting my children in the park until this attacker is caught, I don’t want to go in there myself. ”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I take my children over to that park. It’s horrendous — why would anyone hurt an 80-year-old man? We all feel scared.”

The Met said officers found the victim with “potentially life-threatening stab wounds” and that he was in hospital.

They later said he was in a stable condition.