A HORRIFIED mum has described the moment her 14-year-old son called her saying: "don't panic mum but I think I've been stabbed".

The 14-year-old boy – who will remain anonymous to protect his identity – went for a walk from his house in Haydock at around 8pm.

His mum received a phone call that she says will stay with her for the rest of her life.

The 35-year-old said: "My son usually just goes for a walk for an hour, just to get out of the house, he was on his own and apparently he saw two girls he knew in King George V Park and went over to chat to them.

"He then said that a group of around 20 lads aged from 14 to 18 he thinks, approached them and asked where he was from.

"After he answered they pulled out weapons including an axe and started beating him.

"He couldn't get away straight away and when he could he hobbled over to the Tesco [on Church Street] and staff called for an ambulance and called me.

"That's when I got a phone call about 8.30pm, he'd only been gone 30 minutes and he said 'don't panic mum but I think I've been stabbed'."

"Him saying that made me panic even more and he was taken to Whiston Hospital where they found he had been stabbed with what they think was a knife in the upper leg and he had to have stitches.

"He was also battered and bruised all over his torso and legs."

The teenager is now at home recovering but his mum is wary about him going out again alone.

The mum-of-four added: "He said he didn't know this group of lads, so I don't know why they would attack him like this but it seems that kids having knives is getting more common.

"It's just awful that a lad can't even go for a walk nowadays without being attacked. If weapons are involved it is a chance thing that you are going to come out of it OK and luckily he was but it could have been different.

"It only takes someone nicking a vein and that's it, why do they think carrying knives and weapons around is OK?"

Detectives are appealing for information following the stabbing last week.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Vaughan said: “Although the victim was thankfully not seriously injured, he and his friends were left understandably shocked to have been attacked.

“Our investigations are ongoing and I’d urge anyone with information to come forward, whether you know of any young people who were in the park last Monday, or saw and captured anything yourself, either CCTV, dashcam, or other footage.

“The use of weapons can have catastrophic consequences and we work closely with partners, schools and colleges to educate people about the risks.

“We’re determined to find all of those involved in this incident and issued a Section 60 order last Monday as a result, in order to prevent further violence and to ensure the safety of everyone in the community.

“Our parks and green spaces should be places to visit and enjoy, especially when exercise time is limited, but I’d appeal to parents and guardians to know where young people in your care are. Gatherings of any sort run the risk of spreading this pandemic and extending restrictions on us all.”

Please contact us @MerPolCC on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with crime reference 21000133469.

Information can also be passed on via 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.