Man 'stable' after suffering knife wound to liver in Torquay street attack

A MAN was in intensive care after suffering four knife wounds in an incident in Abbey Road, Torquay.

Peter McDonald underwent emergency surgery shortly after the incident because one of the injuries had punctured his liver.

He suffered three other puncture wounds — including one in the stomach — and his condition is now said to be stable.

The incident happened at just after 9pm on Friday, April 20, at the bus stop opposite Central Cinema on Abbey Road and then continued at the door of Ryan's Bar.

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Local schoolboy band Beach were playing at the time and many of the witnesses who came forward to help police were teenagers.

The landlady of Ryan's Bar, who gave first aid to the injured man, said: "It happened on the other side of the road, but the injured man came into the bar.

"The band were playing and there were a lot people in the bar."

A man was arrested nearby and Abbey Road was sealed off overnight and for much of Saturday.

Police later recovered a knife from a garden in Abbey Road.

Detectives investigating the incident are now asking for witnesses who may have seen the victim and another man arguing shortly beforehand.

Det Insp Nick Wilden said: "The injured person is a man in his mid-20s.

"One of the injuries punctured his liver and he was in the critical care unit. He is now stable.

"I want to stress that these men were known to each other and this was not a random incident in the street.

"Police were on the scene very quickly and I want to thank the large number of people who came forward as witnesses."

In a knife amnesty earlier this year, more than 120 knives and bladed instruments were handed in to police stations in South Devon.

On Monday, April 23, Stuart Farnon, 37, of Warren Road in Torquay appeared at Torquay Magistrates' Court after more than 48 hours in custody.

He faces charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent.

He stood only to confirm his name, age and address.

No plea was entered and no application for bail was made.

Farnon was remanded in custody to appear at Exeter Crown Court on May 8 at 10am.