THE WIFE of a soldier stabbed by a frenzied knifeman outside a military base desperately fought him off so he could escape.
The soldier, in his 40s, is fighting for his life after a horror attack outside Brompton Barracks in Gillingham, Kent, last night.
The attacker, armed with two kitchen knives, is understood to have been on a moped before rushing towards the victim and launching a frenzied assault.
A woman – said to be the soldier’s wife – is said to have ran out of a nearby property after witnessing the horror.
She sprinted to the soldier and desperately tried to pull the knifeman off him.
A witness added: “Blood was everywhere as I tried to apply pressure to his wounds until the police arrived.
“When the guy’s wife came out and started trying to pull the guy off he didn’t even try to hurt her.”
Alex Reynolds, who lives opposite the road where the attack happened, told The Sun: “The first thing I heard was a piercing scream.
“When I first went down there I thought it was a scuffle between two people, but as soon as we got there we realised it was more.
“I saw a man on the floor. We stayed down there for about half an hour until they put a cordon up, nobody could really believe it had happened.”
“She added: “I walk my son to the nursery and back morning and evening, there’s lots of uniformed military about.
“They are among the most friendly people in the area.”
The victim was initially able to get back to his feet after around 20 seconds and staggered back to towards his property.
But the attacker is said to have chased him down and began a second horrific assault.
Witnesses have also described hearing “blood-curdling scream” as the attacker, wearing a ski mask and NASA bomber jacket, continued with his assault.
The knifeman is said to have ran his finger across the blade and licked it in front of bystanders.
One woman, who lives near the scene, told of how she was sitting down for dinner with her family when they heard a “huge scream”.
As they got to the window, she saw the attacker stabbing the victim, who was was on the floor.
She added: “It’s very, very scary.”
The soldier, said to have been in uniform at the time, was airlifted to hospital from the scene having suffered “serious injuries”.
Writing on X, Defence Secretary John Healey: “Shocking to hear of an attack on a soldier in Kent.
“My thoughts are with the soldier and his family, who deserve privacy at this difficult time. On behalf of the Government, I wish him a swift recovery.”
An Army spokesman added: “We’re very sorry to confirm that a soldier has sustained serious injuries in an attack in Chatham, Kent.
“Our thoughts are with the soldier and their family and we request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.
“We will continue to work closely with Kent Police to understand what happened and support the investigation.
“Anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any relevant information should contact Kent Police.”
It comes as a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
A Kent Police statement said: “An investigation has been launched following reports of a serious assault in Gillingham.
“Kent Police was called at around 5.55pm to reports a man in his 40s had suffered injuries consistent with stab wounds in Sally Port Gardens.
“The victim was taken to hospital, where his condition is described as serious.
“Officers attended the scene and at approximately 6.20pm a 24-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
“A cordon is currently in place around the scene of the incident and inquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.
“Local residents can expect to see an ongoing police presence in the area.”
