Detectives investigating the death of a man after a confrontation with a group of youths have arrested a 13-year-old girl on suspicion of murder.

The girl is currently in custody, Essex Police have said.

Residents fought to save the man, named as Darren Kelly, 42, from Basildon, Essex, after he staggered to a block of flats after being stabbed in a street row.

A 20-year-old man, 17-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, all from Pitsea, and a 16-year-old boy from Basildon have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody, Essex Police said.

This morning, police confirmed a fifth person, a 13-year-old girl from Basildon, has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.

Police confirmed the identity of the victim as Mr Kelly, from Voysey Gardens. The lorry driver died after being found with serious injuries in Caister Drive at about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the provisional cause of death was multiple stab wounds and blood loss.

Police said they believe he had been involved in an altercation with about five youths or young men.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, who is leading the inquiry, said: “I would appeal for anyone who saw the attack to contact my team. This happened in a residential area so people would have been about.”

Anyone with information about events leading to the murder is asked to contact detectives at Essex Police on 101, send an email to scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

One witness told reporters of the victim’s desperate plea for help, moments after he had been stabbed.

Carole Crisp, 56, said: “He managed to get to our block and was just randomly pressing the buzzers for help.

“When I answered, he said ‘help me, I’ve been stabbed’.

“I rushed down with the woman who lives below me who is a paramedic.

“He was covered in blood and there was a trail of blood along the street.

“He had been stabbed in the side and arm. I cut his clothes off while she tried to treat him.”

Paramedics then arrived and took the victim to hospital where he died.

“I’m just in shock and so sad we couldn’t do more,” a tearful Mrs Crisp added.

“He was passing out and couldn’t talk. He couldn’t tell us what happened.”

Police and forensic teams continue to work at the scene today, with a cordon in place along one end of the street.

The drains to the block of flats were pumped as officers searched for evidence.

Residents on the quiet cul-de-sac have been left in shock and were standing huddled in groups outside their homes.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw Mr Kelly collapsed outside her flat.

“We’ve all been really emotional today, it’s really hard to get past what we’ve seen,” she added.

“I’ve had trouble with kids before and I just keep thinking that could have been me, I could have been stabbed.

“There’s problems with gangs of kids, they’re always in the park and set the bins on fire quite frequently.

“There’s been a lot of incidents on the streets round here, people getting mugged and sexual assaults.

“It’s really worrying, I don’t go out at night at all not even to walk the dog.”

A couple came to pay their respects to the victim and laid a bunch of flowers on the ground nearby.