THE friend of a man viciously stabbed in York city centre has told of the horrifying moments as his mate lay fighting for his life.

Dan Sykes said he was with the victim when the man was attacked on the banks of the River Foss, near Rowntree Wharf and Hungate, on Thursday night.

Mr Sykes said he was told by paramedics that he had saved his friend’s life.

“I have never had someone die in my hands, but because of what I did, he is alive,” he said.

The victim was last night still in York Hospital with serious injuries, while a 30-year-old man remained in police custody in connection with the incident.

An official North Yorkshire Police statement on Thursday gave the victim’s age as 17, but the force said yesterday that he was, in fact, 27.

Mr Sykes and another friend, Michael Wood, rejected a witness’s claims that they and others “scarpered” when police arrived.

An attendant at the Shambles car park, which overlooks the crime scene, also claimed partial credit for the man’s survival.

Dave Avison said: “I was just standing here and a lass came running round, screaming her head off.

“She was saying ‘he’s been stabbed – get the police’. I went down with a first-aid box and did first aid on him. I put a bandage on his back.

“When I got down there he was on the floor. There was a lad and a lass stood there and another lad bent over the victim.”

Officers remained at the crime scene, across the river from the beer garden of the Five Lions pub in Walmgate, until just before 4pm yesterday, almost 21 hours after the attack happened.

A tent was set up around the scene and the Rowntree Wharf footbridge was cordoned off, while forensics experts examined the area. A specialist team also scoured the undergrowth on the north bank of the Foss, looking for evidence.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the attack, which occurred at about 6.50pm on Thursday.

Anyone with information should phone York CID on 0845 6060247, quoting the reference number 12090125702, or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.