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Boy 'wrestled to the ground and knife kicked away' in Heswall Bus Station brawl

Two teenage boys were taken to hospital as horrified witnesses explained how the brawl unfolded

[Merseyside Police at Heswall Bus Station on July 4 after two teenage boys are believed to have been stabbed in a large fight]

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Merseyside Police at Heswall Bus Station on July 4 after two teenage boys are believed to have been stabbed in a large fight

A boy was wrestled to the ground by a heroic stranger as a knife fight broke out at a Merseyside bus station last night, Saturday. Emergency services rushed to the scene at Heswall Bus Station on Telegraph Road at around 6.35pm after a brawl broke out among a group a teenagers.

Police officers found two boys with injuries, one to his chest and the other to his finger, believed to have been inflicted with a bladed weapon. The pair were taken to hospital for assessment although their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Teenage boys, thought to be between 15 and 17 years old, were arrested by officers and taken into custody, with detectives still establishing their details, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said.

The brawl is thought to have taken place shortly after a bus arrived at the station and the ECHO has since been told more than one blade was used in the fight.

[Police cordoned the bus station off to the public as forensic work took place following the stabbing]

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Police cordoned the bus station off to the public as forensic work took place following the stabbing

Following the stabbings, the large group of teens are said to have scattered, using side streets to get away from the scene. Steve Shakeshaft said one heroic man, thought to be in his 40s, "wrestled one of the boys to the ground" before kneeling on him and "kicking the knife away".

The knife was described as "large", with other knives present during the fight that unfolded just a few hundred metres from bustling bars and restaurants on the road which runs through the village.

Another man, who works in a nearby takeaway, told the ECHO he and his co-workers ran out of the takeaway to see what had happened when police descended on the main road in the middle of the quiet village in Wirral.

He said: "We saw [a boy] getting taken out and into an ambulance; there was a lot of blood. Police looked like they arrested some boys and two girls."

When the ECHO visited the scene, the bus station was cordoned off while a forensic officer worked inside an inner cordon, laying several evidence markers on the floor.

Two buses remained inside the cordon, the number 22 and an out of service vehicle.

One man who works nearby also explained how he saw one woman, thought to have been outside the Johnny Pye pub at the rear of the station on Pye Road, run to the scene with a first aid kit and help one of the teens stabbed in the brawl.

Several passers-by also noted how the village was usually quiet and quaint. One woman, who said she had lived in the area her entire life, said she had "never seen anything like this before", with others sharing that sentiment.

The police force is yet to release more information about those injured and arrested, with CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries underway.

[A large police presence remained in the village for hours after the brawl]

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A large police presence remained in the village for hours after the brawl

Detective Inspector Steve Wilkinson said: "We understand the concern that such an incident will cause, especially given the ages of those involved and the busy area in which this occurred.

"The possession of bladed weapons can and does cause devastation in our communities so despite these arrests, will be relentlessly pursuing all of those we suspect of having an involvement.

"Additionally, people who associate with those who carry weapons are putting themselves in danger, and need to tell us what they know.

"If you were in the area and saw the incident or anyone running off, or suspect a young person you know of having been involved, please come forward with information and check any devices which may hold images or footage to assist."

A spokesperson for the force added: "Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC.

"You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101 quoting incident reference 26000537879.

"Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously."

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