A man was today fighting for his life after being hacked with a Samurai sword in a vicious gang fight in Southend.

Detectives are hunting the attacker who left his victim slumped on the pavement in Victoria Road, Southend, as he repeatedly screamed "I am dying".

The victim, who is in his thirties and who has not been named, was last night in a serious but stable condition in Southend Hospital.

Horrified eyewitnesses described leaving their homes after the attack to find pools of blood on the street at 10am yesterday.

A pensioner, who asked not to be named, said: "My neighbour saw a man lying on the street with bad head injuries. He was shouting 'I'm dying, I'm dying', so the man went inside to phone for an ambulance.

"When he came out someone was bundling the man into a car to take him to hospital."

Forensic teams sealed off the area with tape and scoured the street for clues as uniformed officers carried out door-to-door inquiries.

Det Sgt Bob Sandford, of Leigh CID, said: "This was a vicious assault and the victim lost a lot of blood. He is in hospital and his wounds are serious."

Police want to hear from the occupants of a green-coloured Citroen Xantia seen driving away from Victoria Road by the Woodgrange Drive junction.

Anyone with information should contact Southend police on 01702 431212.

Published Friday January 16, 2004

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