STAFF from a Southampton pub helped a wounded teenager after he suffered a knife wound after an attack in a nearby park.

The 17-year-old boy was assaulted in Hinkler Green on Saturday night, suffering a knife wound to his leg.

Following the incident, he made his way to the Hinkler Pub, where staff and customers offered first aid before emergency services arrived.

Manager, Gary Hines, 31, told the Echo he was thankful the community came together, finding an unlikely positive in a horrifying ordeal.

READ MORE: Boy, 17, suffers knife wound to leg after attack in city park

He said: “We’re a community pub, our focus is on the community. We kind of feel that if you come for one of us, you come for all of us.

“It was business as normal and then around 8:45pm and then the young man came in with a friend and was seeking medical attention. So, we stopped serving and we quickly rang the emergency services who were here within a matter of minutes.

“Both staff and customers gathered round to do anything they could to help in the meantime.

“I’d just like to thank everyone involved; the community really came together during a really difficult moment.

Daily Echo:

The assault comes less than a week after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed in the back on Linacre Road.

Police are continuing to investigate and implemented additional stop and search powers over the weekend in response.

Mr Hines added: “We want to make this area as safe as we possibly can for people. We know knife crime is an epidemic in the area, but we can only control what we can control.

“On Saturday, we showed our solidarity and will always be there for the community.

“If we hadn’t had been here, what would have happened? Community ethos is really important and again, I can’t stress how thankful I am to the community for coming together as they did.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “This weekend we are implementing additional stop and search powers in Thornhill and the surrounding areas under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

“We understand that violence involving young people can cause particular concern to communities. Please be reassured that enquiries are being progressed as a priority and we will have a number of officers in the area who are approachable if you have any concerns, or any information about the assault.”