A 28-YEAR-OLD barman said last nighthe feels lucky to be alive after he was stabbed in the back during his best friend's stag celebrations.David Price is recovering in Colchester General Hospital after his lung was punctured when a teenager plunged a knife into his back missing his heart by inches.

A 28-YEAR-OLD barman said last nighthe feels lucky to be alive after he was stabbed in the back during his best friend's stag celebrations.

David Price is recovering in Colchester General Hospital after his lung was punctured when a teenager plunged a knife into his back missing his heart by inches.

He and 12 other friends had travelled to Clacton from their home town of Southend to celebrate the impending wedding of their friend, Stuart,in early May.

They arrived at the seaside resort by minibus in mid-afternoon on Saturday and later headed for the Lighthouse Pub, where they remained prior to a planned visit to the town's nightclubs.

From his hospital bed, where he has to administer himself morphine to relieve his pain, Mr Price said: "If that knife had been two inches the other way, I wouldn't be here now."

He added: "Some of my other friends in the group had had an argument with this group of youngsters in the pub earlier in the evening, but that all seemed to sort itself out and later on our lot and theirs were playing pool together.

"An hour later, the barman asked the boys to leave and about another hour on top of that at around 10pm, we decided we would all leave in groups of four to get into the club.

"I was in the first group to leave and turned right out of the pub and headed up Colne Road. As I was about to turn the corner to go towards the arcade I felt this stabbing in my back.

"I put my hand over my shoulder and felt blood. I was terrified, I just ran."

He managed to reach the arcade area in Pier Avenue, but then collapsed. A passing fire crew from Clacton administered first aid and he was later taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Price, who is a head barman of a Southend pub, said: "I just want to thank those people that helped me when I collapsed. It was completely unprovoked. I want everything done to help catch this guy."

Mr Price said his attacker was around 19 years old and wore a cream top with a white logo and had short dark hair, which was spikey at the front.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the force's CID was now dealing with the "serious" incident and no arrests have been made.

Anybody with any information is asked to call Clacton police on 01255 221312.