A WINE bar owner told last night how he fought to save the life of a teenager who had been stabbed in the neck in a Suffolk town centre.Matthew Buckman, from Kesgrave, Ipswich, was attacked at about 1.

By John Howard

A WINE bar owner told last night how he fought to save the life of a teenager who had been stabbed in the neck in a Suffolk town centre.

Matthew Buckman, from Kesgrave, was attacked at about 1.45am yesterday after a dispute with two other men in an alleyway off Upper Brook Street in Ipswich.

The 19-year-old managed to stagger to the nearby Zing wine bar where the owners, who were closing up, desperately fought to keep him alive and phoned for an ambulance.

Konstantinos “Gus” Chrysomalis, joint owner of the bar, said: “I was standing behind the bar, we had just shut.

“A customer came over and said first aid was needed. I took over and my business partner Andrew Ramsey phoned for an ambulance. I applied pressure and tried to calm him down, he was in a bad state.

“We waited for an ambulance and tried to keep him focussed, he was in shock. He was bleeding from several places.

“He kept drifting in and out of consciousness and was losing his breath. He went pale, the ambulance came and he was taken off.”

Mr Buckman was taken to Ipswich Hospital, where he was being treated in intensive care last night. He was said to be in a critical condition.

Police yesterday put up a tent in the alleyway where the stabbing happened in a bid to preserve the scene, while tape cordoned off an area outside the Zing bar.

A blood spattered chair, stained tiles and tissues could be seen, hinting at the night's horrific events.

Residents and shoppers passing the scene of the stabbing yesterday spoke of their shock and fears that Ipswich is becoming an ever more dangerous town.

James Taylor, from Ipswich, said: “The town has become more violent than it was - I go out of town on Saturday nights to country pubs now to avoid trouble.

“I would not come into the town centre at night, only during the day.”

Patrick North, from Alderton near Woodbridge, said: “I have a couple of lads in their 20s and they come clubbing most weekends.

“You do worry for them. I think we rely too much on CCTV these days, I would like to see more policemen on the streets.”

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said that detectives are appealing for information to help them catch those responsible.

He said: “The 19-year-old victim was involved in an altercation with two men and received injuries including a stab wound to the neck.

“Enquiries are at an early stage, but police do have basic descriptions of the two men.”

One man is described as white, about five feet nine inches tall, clean shaven with short fair hair and was aged in his late teens or early 20s. The second man was taller and had short dark hair.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information about the attack to contact officers on 01473 613500 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.