May must act now to save lives
Parents mourn ’loving son’» Pair fought in vain to help him How Mirror pointed the way
THE family of schoolboy Yousef Makki have revealed that in the hours before he was stabbed to death he phoned them to say he would be home for his tea.
His parents added that the next people on their doorstep were police officers telling them the 17-year-old had been killed.
He was stabbed in a street in one of Britain’s most affluent villages, Hale Barns in Greater Manchester.
Relatives said: “He was a loving and caring son and brother and he meant the world to his family.
“He was a sporty young man, a dedicated student and so bright.
“We are devastated and cannot believe our son has gone.
“This senseless loss has affected the whole community.
“Yousef had phoned home hours earlier to say that he would be home for his tea, but the next knock at the door were officers with the tragic news.”
They added he was “loved by everyone”. Yousef lived in the Manchester suburb of Burnage – which is eight miles from where he was killed – in a mid-terraced home with his British mum, Lebanese dad and younger brother.
Yousef, who had dreams of becoming a heart surgeon, had been visiting a friend on the night he was stabbed.
Detectives questioning two 17-year-old boys on suspicion of murder have been granted another 24 hours to quiz them.
Security firm boss Paul Hughes and colleague James Phillips have told how they tried in vain to save Yousef.
They administered first aid on Saturday night until emergency services arrived.
Paul said: “My security guard saw three lads jumping up and down. So he stopped his car and one of them said, ‘My mate has been stabbed’. He turned round and he was covered in blood.”
Paul, football star David Beckham’s ex-bodyguard, said he was called and arrived to try to help.
He added: “I got there with a defibrillator, but we couldn’t use that as he had a stab wound to the heart. All we could do was keep the pressure on. I think he took his last breath here.” He added: “The other two boys were frantic, in shock.”
James, 39, said: “Yousef had two friends with him, one on the telephone and one applying pressure to his wound. I took over the first aid… He was deteriorating quite fast.” Yousef ’s dad and other family members visited the scene on Sunday and spoke to Paul, who said: “I think he was in shock.
“He thanked us for doing the best we could for [his son].”
Regarding his firm’s patrols in the area, he said: “There aren’t enough police officers so residents feel they have to pay for private security.
“The resources the police have got are minimal.”
Paul added: “There are more millionaires per square mile here than anywhere else in England.”
The suburb is favoured by soap stars and footballers.
Manchester United players Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Fred are said to be among those who live in the EXACTLY 60 years ago the Daily Mirror launched a campaign to get knives off Britain’s streets after a string of horrific attacks by youngsters. Stunned by our March 1959 report, focusing on flick knives, parents even posted their children’s weapons to our office.