Confuzzled
24-04-2007, 11:15
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed during violence in the West Midlands that left more than 10 other people injured.
Police closed Handsworth Park in Birmingham after trouble flared at the Vaisakhi event, held as part of Sikh new year celebrations.
During the incident the man, thought to be in his 50s, was stabbed three times.
Six other people suffered significant injuries, including head wounds, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
'Difficult incident'
They and two others, with lacerations and bruising, were taken to hospital. Doctors treated other people at the park.
The ambulance service said staff also attended incidents in other parts of Handsworth, including a call to a woman, aged in her 50s, who had collapsed unconscious.
Hundreds of Sikhs had been expected to join a procession from the High Street in Smethwick to the park.
A spokesman said they were initially called out at about 1500 BST on Sunday.
Arterial bleed
"There is no doubt that this was a difficult incident for all of the crews, but they did an excellent job providing care to a range of injuries ranging from minor to severe," he said.
"We would like to pay credit to a number of police officers who came across a man with an arterial bleed and who had lost a large quantity of blood.
"They applied a pressure dressing to stem the blood loss until the ambulance staff could get to the man."
A paramedic motorcyclist had to be escorted from the park and an ambulance was also damaged during the disturbances.
Jay Singh, who went with his wife and two young sons, said he probably would not go to the event again.
He said: "I regret it now taking my children there.
"A sword was drawn. I can't recall.. if anybody was attacked with a sword, but I did moments later see a Sikh man sheathing that sword again.
"There was obviously scuffling, fighting. Grown men were carrying big sticks - it was a nasty experience."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6582373.stm
Police closed Handsworth Park in Birmingham after trouble flared at the Vaisakhi event, held as part of Sikh new year celebrations.
During the incident the man, thought to be in his 50s, was stabbed three times.
Six other people suffered significant injuries, including head wounds, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
'Difficult incident'
They and two others, with lacerations and bruising, were taken to hospital. Doctors treated other people at the park.
The ambulance service said staff also attended incidents in other parts of Handsworth, including a call to a woman, aged in her 50s, who had collapsed unconscious.
Hundreds of Sikhs had been expected to join a procession from the High Street in Smethwick to the park.
A spokesman said they were initially called out at about 1500 BST on Sunday.
Arterial bleed
"There is no doubt that this was a difficult incident for all of the crews, but they did an excellent job providing care to a range of injuries ranging from minor to severe," he said.
"We would like to pay credit to a number of police officers who came across a man with an arterial bleed and who had lost a large quantity of blood.
"They applied a pressure dressing to stem the blood loss until the ambulance staff could get to the man."
A paramedic motorcyclist had to be escorted from the park and an ambulance was also damaged during the disturbances.
Jay Singh, who went with his wife and two young sons, said he probably would not go to the event again.
He said: "I regret it now taking my children there.
"A sword was drawn. I can't recall.. if anybody was attacked with a sword, but I did moments later see a Sikh man sheathing that sword again.
"There was obviously scuffling, fighting. Grown men were carrying big sticks - it was a nasty experience."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6582373.stm