A TEENAGER has described the shocking moment he was stabbed at a music festival.

Lewis Smith, who turned 18 last week, was the victim of an unprovoked attack, which left him with stomach wounds, during the Parklife event in Manchester.

The former Burnley College student, of Nelson, was with his girlfriend Georgia Dearden, 18, when he was kicked from behind.

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He told his attacker he didn’t want any trouble, but was dragged to the floor and then stabbed between the rib cage and stomach.

The attacker then fled the scene, although it is believed he returned while Lewis, of Bevan Place, was being treated.

Lewis, a plasterer with Spartan Render Service in Nelson, said: “It was a totally unprovoked thing, we hadn’t even made eye contact before he came up to me and started kicking me and threatening me.

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“I was just stood there with my friends and my girlfriend and it came out of nowhere. It is the last thing you ever expect to happen.

“It all happened in the space of 60 seconds, so fast that I couldn’t really realise what was happening or see the guy’s face clearly.

“I felt very threatened as soon as I turned around. I didn’t even see the knife. The first I knew that I’d been stabbed was when my girlfriend started screaming.”

Lewis added: “I know I have been very lucky not to be more seriously injured. All I’ve needed was stitches. I have a scar on my stomach, and on my hands but it could have been a lot worse. It’s made me realise how easily something like this can happen. I will never go back to Parklife.”

Last year another Parklife festival-goer Robert Hart, 26, suffered fatal head injuries after being attacked in front of his girlfriend.

Georgia, a support worker, said the whole ordeal was terrifying.

She said: “He’s lucky to be alive. We were just walking along when he was kicked. Lewis’s boss Sam, who was with us, pulled Lewis up and we saw his t-shirt covered in blood. It was awful. I thought he was going to die.

“Everyone just came and crowded around us. Lewis was lying on the floor being treated by paramedics while security guards formed a ring around us holding people back. All I could do was scream. It was terrifying.”

Georgia added: “They did have metal detectors on the gates and police with sniffer dogs. I don’t know how the guy managed to get a knife in.”

The attack took place at around 7.45pm outside the Drop The Mustard tent and police have released an e-fit image of the attacker.

He is described as white, aged in his early 20s, of slim build, with long mousey coloured brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. He was wearing a dark coloured coat. He was believed to be with two other men.

Detective Constable Rick Pack said: “This was a completely unprovoked and violent attack on someone who was, up until that point, having a good time with his girlfriend and friends.

“The victim was stabbed between the rib cage and stomach and is lucky not to have suffered more serious injury.

“We believe after the stabbing, the offender returned when the victim was being treated by paramedics. Thanks to witnesses, we now have an e-fit and I would ask anyone who may recognise it to contact police.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 3228 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.